Evaluation of anthelmintic efficacy of closamectin against gastrointestinal nematodes in small East African goats in Kyegonza sub county, Gomba district

Abstract

In Uganda, livestock contributes about 4% of the gross domestic product (GDP) and 16% of the agricultural GDP in 2019/2020 and goats contribute 30.8% of this GDP. However, this contribution would be much higher than this if it was not due to gastrointestinal nematodes that are considered the most important causes of reduced productivity in goats thus pose a serious challenge to the goat industry. To understand this issue , a controlled experimental study was done aimed at determining the anthelmintic efficacy of closamectin against gastrointestinal nematodes in small East African goats in Kyegonza sub county, Gomba district. A total of 20 fecal samples of goats(Male = 5 Female = 15) of 8 months up to 3 years from two of farms( farm T =8 and farm A= 12) were collected. The research findings revealed that out of the 20 fecal samples, 2 samples out of 12 goats from farm A were negative for strongyle eggs and all fecal samples from farm T were all positive (100% prevalence )with mean fecal egg counts of 9400 strongyle eggs per gram. The goats positive for gastrointestinal nematodal infections were allocated to two study groups ( treatment and control) based on the EPG( eggs per gram) from the results obtained before treatment. Each group had 9 positive cases and closamectin was administered subcutaneously(SC) according to weight of goats ( 1ml per 50kgs of live body weight) for the treatment group and control group was left untreated. The Fecal egg counts (FEC) expressed as EPG were obtained on day 0( per treatment) and day 14 ( post treatment). The Fecal egg count reduction (FECR) were calculated using the FEC results from day 0 and day 14 from both study groups. The calculated FECR percentage means for control and treatment groups were 65% and 99.097% respectively. The FECR mean was gradually higher in treated than untreated goats. In conclusion, this calls for farmers to embrace the different drug interventions on the market through consulting the veterinary doctors on the appropriate dewormer to use to control GINs in their goats.