Nematodes represent one of the most abundant and species-rich groups of animals on the planet, with parasitic species causing chronic, debilitating infections in both livestock and humans worldwide. The prevalence and success of the nematodes is a direct consequence of the exceptionally protective properties of their cuticle. The synthesis of this cuticle is a complex multi-step process, which ...

This paper examines the known immunological and genetic factors associated with sheep resistance to infection by Haemonchus contortus. Such resistance is an inheritable genetic trait (h(2), 0.22-0.63) associated with certain sheep breeds. Resistant sheep do not completely reject the disease; they only harbor fewer parasites than susceptible sheep and therefore have a lower fecal egg count. Prot...

A group of 12 10-month-old, worm-free Merino lambs were given a single injection of disophenol at 10 mg/kg. This group and another group of 12 worm-free lambs were infested with infective larvae of Haemonchus contortus 1-3 times a week with a maximum dose of 4000/week from 0-91 days. From 95-168 days the dose was increased to a maximum of 6000/week. Every 7 days faeces were examined for worm eg...

The phase II detoxification system glutathione transferase (GST) is associated with the establishment of parasitic nematode infections within the gastrointestinal environment of the mammalian host. We report the functional analysis of a GST from an important worldwide parasitic nematode of small ruminants, Haemonchus contortus. This GST shows limited activity with a range of classical GST subst...

Plants containing condensed tannins (CTs) may hold promise as alternatives to synthetic anthelmintic (AH) drugs for controlling gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs). However, the structural features that contribute to the AH activities of CTs remain elusive. This study probed the relationships between CT structures and their AH activities. Eighteen plant resources were selected on the basis of the...

BACKGROUND Haemonchus contortus causes severe economic losses in small ruminants, so this study was conducted to study the UV effect on H. contortus larvae and its protective effect. METHODS Sixteen male goats were divided into 5 groups, control infected, control uninfected and UV 30 minutes exposure; UV 60 minutes exposure and UV booster 60 minutes exposure. The UV groups were exposed to UV ...

A total of 23 kudu, Tragelaphus strepsiceros, were shot at 2-month intervals from June 1983 to April 1984 in the Etosha Game Reserve in the north of South West Africa/Namibia. The parasite survey conducted on these animals yielded 2 cestode and 12 nematode species. Haemonchus vegliai and Cooperia neitzi were the most prevalent nematodes and occurred in 13 animals each, followed by Cooperia acut...

Received: Revised: Accepted: August 02, 2013 August 25, 2013 August 29, 2013 This report documents clinical manifestation of anemia associated with Haemonchus spp. in naturally infected llamas from Argentina. Infected animals presented conjunctival pallor, discolored coat, edema in the submandibular area, weakness, lack of exercise tolerance, sternal recumbence and emaciation. The range of hema...

Haemonchus cysteine proteases, because of their apparent critical function in worm physiology, are considered important candidates in the immunological control of haemonchosis in sheep. Only limited information is, however, available on the immunoprotective properties of these molecules in goats. In the present study cysteine proteases of Haemonchus contortus adult worms isolated from a goat st...