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. 2021 Feb 1;11(2):363.
doi: 10.3390/ani11020363.

Haemonchosis: A Challenging Parasitic Infection of Sheep and Goats

Konstantinos V Arsenopoulos  1 , George C Fthenakis  2 , Eleni I Katsarou  2 , Elias Papadopoulos  1
Affiliations

Haemonchosis: A Challenging Parasitic Infection of Sheep and Goats

Konstantinos V Arsenopoulos et al. Animals (Basel). .

Abstract

The paper reviews the challenges about haemonchosis-a significant and common parasitic infection of small ruminants. Haemonchus contortus is a highly pathogenic parasite that localises in the abomasum of affected animals and exerts its pathogenicity by blood-sucking activity, adversely affecting the health and productivity of animals. The first challenge is the uneven distribution of the infection globally, this being more prevalent in tropical and subtropical and warm temperate and summer rainfall regions than in cool and cold temperate and arid regions; hence, this leads in differences in the approaches required for its control. Another challenge is the widespread presence of Haemonchus strains resistant to the various anthelmintics available: Benzimidazoles, imidazothiazoles, macrocyclic lactones, closantel and monepantel, which makes the control of the infection difficult. The third challenge refers to the difficulty of diagnosing the disease, given that field evidence can provide suspicion about the infection, which needs to be subsequently confirmed by laboratory tests through parasitological or molecular techniques. The final challenge relates to the difficulties in the control of the infection and the necessity to use pharmaceutical products cautiously and with a planned approach, to avoid further development of anthelmintic resistance, also given that use of a recently licenced vaccine is not widespread. In conclusion, at the moment, we should be concerned, but not worried, about this infection, and apply correctly the appropriate health management plans.

Keywords: Haemonchus; abomasum; anthelmintic resistance; diagnosis; goat; health management; prevention; sheep; treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Haemonchus worms on the mucosa of the abomasum of an infected sheep.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Haemonchus eggs as seen during microscopic observation (75 × 45 μm).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Haemonchus L2, as seen during microscopic observation.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Haemonchus L3 (infective stage), as seen during microscopic observation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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