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Risk factors associated with occurrence of anthelmintic resistance in sheep of resource-poor farmers in Limpopo province, South Africa

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Abstract

Anthelmintic treatment is the most common way of controlling nematode infections in ruminants even though several countries have reported anthelmintic resistance (AR), resulting in limitation for sustainable small ruminant production. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the knowledge of resource-poor sheep farmers in Limpopo province of South Africa on the use of anthelmintics. A questionnaire regarding helminthosis control practices was administered to small ruminant farmers in five districts of Limpopo province namely Capricorn, Sekhukhune, Waterberg, Vhembe, and Mopani. A total of 77 resource-poor farmers were interviewed between June and August of 2017 using a structured questionnaire with a combination of qualitative and quantitative open-ended questions. The interviewed farmers were divided into three groups based on their farming experience (< 5; 6–10, and ˃ 10 years of farming experience). Limited farming experience was shown as one of the risks, as farmers that owned sheep for less than 10 years could not identify the symptoms of gastrointestinal parasites infection and did not know how nematodes are transmitted to animals. However, no significant difference (p < 0.05) was found to exist between the three groups of farmers in terms of clinical signs identification and correct application of anthelmintics. About 43% of the respondents were unaware of gastrointestinal nematodes (GI) that infect sheep, could not identify the clinical symptoms of gastrointestinal nematodes infection, and only 34% knew how animals become infected. Although 67.5% of farmers mentioned that they never dose their sheep, 32.5% use anthelmintics at varying times in a year. None of the farmers weighed their sheep before dosing them instead visual appraisal of individual weight was the most common means of estimating the anthelmintic dose. The above information is an indication of risks associated with possible occurrence of anthelmintic resistance in the study areas. There is therefore, a need to give training to resource-poor farmers of small stock on proper application of anthelmintic treatment and to educate them on how to prevent development of AR. Future studies on AR should also be conducted in the province in flocks with high-treatment frequencies to establish the occurrence of AR using both in vivo and in vitro methods. The most common risk factor associated with the occurrence of AR in all the five districts of Limpopo province was found to be the use of anthelmintics without weighing the animals to determine the correct dosage.

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Acknowledgements

The first author is supported by a grant holder bursary of the Collaborative Postgraduate Training Grant of National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa (GUN: 105271) made available to OMMT. This study was made possible by the funding from Afrivet Chair on Primary Animal Health Care (University of Pretoria) research grant made available to RM and the NRF incentive grant for rated researchers (GUN94187) made available to OMMT. The authors acknowledge the sheep farmers in the five district municipalities of Limpopo province, extension officers, and animal health technicians in the Limpopo Department of Agriculture for their cooperation. We are grateful to the animal production interns at Tompi Seleka College of Agriculture for their technical assistance during data collection.

Funding

The first author is supported by a grant holder bursary of the Collaborative Postgraduate Training Grant of National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa (GUN:105271) made available to OMMT. This study was made possible by the funding from Afrivet Chair on Primary Animal Health Care (University of Pretoria) research grant made available to RM and the NRF incentive grant for rated researchers (GUN94187) made available to OMMT.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, 2531, South Africa

    Morutse Mphahlele & Oriel M. M. Thekisoe

  2. Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors Programme, Agricultural Research Council - Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa

    Ana M. Tsotetsi-Khambule

  3. Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa

    Rebone Moerane

  4. Livestock Research Unit, Mara Research station, Limpopo Department of Agriculture, Louis Trichardt, 0920, South Africa

    Majela L. Mashiloane

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  1. Morutse Mphahlele
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  2. Ana M. Tsotetsi-Khambule
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  5. Oriel M. M. Thekisoe
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MM, AMT-K, RM, and OMMT planned the study. MM conducted the experiment and drafted the manuscript. AMT-K, RM, and OMMT reviewed the manuscript. MLM conducted statistical analysis.

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Correspondence to Morutse Mphahlele.

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Mphahlele, M., Tsotetsi-Khambule, A.M., Moerane, R. et al. Risk factors associated with occurrence of anthelmintic resistance in sheep of resource-poor farmers in Limpopo province, South Africa. Trop Anim Health Prod 51, 555–563 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-018-1724-2

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