Field evaluation of targeted selective treatments to control subclinical gastrointestinal nematode infections on small ruminant farms

Field evaluation of targeted selective treatments to control subclinical gastrointestinal nematode infections on small ruminant farms

Accepted Manuscript Title: FIELD EVALUATION OF TARGETED SELECTIVE TREATMENTS TO CONTROL SUBCLINICAL GASTROINTESTINAL NEMATODE INFECTIONS ON SMALL RUMI...

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Accepted Manuscript Title: FIELD EVALUATION OF TARGETED SELECTIVE TREATMENTS TO CONTROL SUBCLINICAL GASTROINTESTINAL NEMATODE INFECTIONS ON SMALL RUMINANT FARMS Author: F. Valc´arcel A. Aguilar M. S´anchez PII: DOI: Reference:

S0304-4017(15)00204-6 http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.04.014 VETPAR 7606

To appear in:

Veterinary Parasitology

Received date: Revised date: Accepted date:

14-7-2014 10-4-2015 20-4-2015

Please cite this article as: Valc´arcel, F., Aguilar, A.,FIELD EVALUATION OF TARGETED SELECTIVE TREATMENTS TO CONTROL SUBCLINICAL GASTROINTESTINAL NEMATODE INFECTIONS ON SMALL RUMINANT FARMS, Veterinary Parasitology (2015), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.04.014 This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.

*Highlights (for review)

FIELD EVALUATION OF TARGETED SELECTIVE TREATMENTS TO CONTROL SUBCLINICAL GASTROINTESTINAL NEMATODE INFECTIONS IN SMALL RUMINANT FARMS Hightlights

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We model three TST programs under five management types of small ruminants Performance and healthy status are good after TST application Regular anthelmintic dosage could not be necessary in subclinical nematodosis TST are more useful when a minimum of nematode burden is present in the farms

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*Revised Manuscript with NO changes marked (clean)

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TITLE

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FIELD EVALUATION OF TARGETED SELECTIVE TREATMENTS TO

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CONTROL SUBCLINICAL GASTROINTESTINAL NEMATODE INFECTIONS

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ON SMALL RUMINANT FARMS.

AUTHORS

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Valcárcel, F.; Aguilar, A.; Sánchez, M.

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POSTAL ADDRESSES

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Félix Valcárcel, [email protected]

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Ana Aguilar, [email protected]

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María Sánchez, [email protected]

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Grupo de Parasitología Animal, Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal

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(INIA-CISA), 28130 Valdeolmos (Madrid), Spain.

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CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS

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Félix Valcárcel Sancho DVM, PhD

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Parasitology Group, Animal Health Research Center (INIA-CISA) 28130

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Valdeolmos (Madrid), Spain

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Tel.: 0034 91 620 23 00

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Fax: 0034 91 620 22 47

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E-mail address: [email protected]

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ABSTRACT

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Targeted selective treatments (TST) are designed to identify those

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animals that would actually benefit from anthelmintic treatment, thus reducing

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the amount of drugs used and bringing down economic cost. In this study we

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assayed three TST programs based on GIN egg output, clinical sign and live

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weight criteria in a single area where only sub-clinical infections tend to occur

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and no Anthelmintic Resistance is reported. The study was carried out from

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February 2011 to August 2013 on four farms applying different management

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systems: an Ovine Extensive System, Ovine Semi-extensive Semi-irrigated

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System focusing on “Rubia del Molar” and Colmenareña” breeds, Ovine Semi-

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extensive System and Caprine Organic Semi-extensive System.

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The number of sheep and goats treated in all the TST strategies was

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lower in comparison with systematic treatments, especially when selected

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based on clinical signs (100%, in both years), followed by egg output (87.57%

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and 90.44% in the first and second year respectively) and finally by live weight

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(37.95% and 96.69%, in the first and second year respectively). FEC was low

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throughout the study for all animals and groups. Apparently, the TST applied did

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not influence live body weight.

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Preliminary results show that all three targeted selective treatments

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significantly reduced the number of animals treated and the cost of anthelmintic

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treatment on the farms, maintaining productivity in a low challenge environment.

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These results also seem to indicate that systematic anthelmintic treatments are

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unnecessary under these circumstances and traditional anthelmintic regimes

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should therefore be modified.

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KEY WORDS

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Subclinical gastrointestinal nematodosis, targeted selective treatments,

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extensive management systems, small ruminants.

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1. INTRODUCTION

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Like many other agricultural production sectors, sheep husbandry is

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strongly influenced by environmental changes brought about by global climate

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change. Climate change can lead to the emergence of new diseases or

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changes in the prevalence of existing ones (Summers, 2009; Kenyon et al.,

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2009a). In this context, gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) still remain a serious

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threat to small ruminant farming worldwide (Bentounsi et al., 2012; Mederos et

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al., 2012). Control of parasitic infections should be based on both knowledge of

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its

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pharmacological products. However, most livestock producers administer

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anthelmintic treatment without any supporting diagnostic or epidemiological

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knowledge (Kenyon and Jackson, 2012; Valcárcel et al., 2013).

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While intensive or suppressive chemical treatment strategies can give

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rise to maximum production rates, they may not be economically sustainable

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and could lead to anthelmintic resistance (AR). Furthermore, AR is the single

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most important factor hindering the control of nematode parasite infection on

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small ruminant farms (Gilleard, 2006) and is global (for a review, see Jabbar et

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al., 2006). Therefore, a reduction in drug use is desirable to fight AR where it

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exists and to prevent unnecessary spending on small ruminant farms. The aim

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of targeted selective treatment (TST) is to identify those animals that could truly

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benefit from anthelmintic treatment thus reducing the use of drugs and

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economic cost. TST programs must be designed for each specific area and

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treatment application indicators need to be selected carefully (Greer et al.,

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2009). The objective is to apply the best criteria to animal selection which

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depends on the epidemiology of the parasites and the management system

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employed (Rinaldi and Cringoli, 2012); effective application depends on the

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accurate identification of those animals in need of anthelmintic treatment

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(Bentounsi et al., 2012). TST programs have been successfully applied in areas where clinical

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signs are evident and/or where AR has developed (Gallidis et al., 2009; Cringoli

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et al., 2009; Ouzir et al., 2011; Kenyon et al., 2013). However, it is not clear

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whether they work well in areas where GIN mainly produce subclinical

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infections as is the case on many small ruminant farms in Europe (Kenyon and

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Jackson, 2011; Valcárcel et al., 2013b). In this study we evaluated three TST

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programs based on GIN egg output, clinical signs or body weight loss in one

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area where only subclinical infections occur and no AR is reported.

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2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

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2.1.

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Sampling area and study farms

The study was conducted from February 2011 to August 2013 in the

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central part of the Iberian Peninsula. According to the Köppen-Geiger

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classification (Essenwanger, 2001; AEMET, 2011), the climate in this area is

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Mediterranean with Continental and Atlantic influences, characterized by cold

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winters and warm summers.

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Four farms applying different management systems were selected for the

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study (two in the province of Cuenca and two in the province of Madrid). On one

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of the Madrid farms, two breeds were managed and were considered separately

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(flocks 2 and 3). So, briefly, the study was performed in five flocks: Ovine

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Extensive System; Ovine Semi-extensive Semi-irrigated System featuring the

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“Rubia del Molar” breed; Ovine Semi-extensive Semi-irrigated System featuring

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the “Colmenareña” breed; Ovine Semi-extensive System and Caprine Organic

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Semi-extensive System (Flocks 1 to 5, respectively). Sampling started in

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different months depending on when the study animals were born. Details about

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farm characteristics and management are shown in Table 1. Study groups and sampling

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Between 51 and 64 animals per farm, depending on availability, were selected

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for the study.

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The condition of the animals was assessed at the beginning of the study. They

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were weighed, individually examined by a veterinary and a fecal sample was

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taken to evaluate GIN egg output. Selected animals from each farm were

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distributed in three balanced groups following three TST criteria in terms of

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body weight and faecal egg counts (FEC). All TSTs criteria were performed on

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all the farms

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Once selected, animals were tested every month throughout the duration of the

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study (11 to 24 months depending on the farm). This included weighing, an

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external veterinary inspection to detect clinical signs and the taking of individual

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fecal samples to estimate FEC determined by means of a modified salt-

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floatation technique with a saline solution (1.18 specific gravity) sensitive to one

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egg per gram of feces (epg) (Jackson, 1974 and modified by Kenyon et al.,

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2013).

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The animals put in the three groups were managed just like the general flock

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except for the anthelmintic treatment regime: Egg Output Group (EOG), in

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which animals were treated individually only when elimination was equal or

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higher than 300 GIN eggs per gram of feces (epg); Clinical Sign Group (CSG),

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in which animals were individually treated only when clinical signs were

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observed (diarrhea, severe bodyweight loss or anemia); and Live Weight Group

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(LWG), in which animals were individually treated only when bodyweight was

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lower than 90% of the average weight of this group.

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All anthelmintic treatments administered throughout the study consisted of

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albendazole (Valbazen® 28%CO, 5 mg per kg live weight). The dose was

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determined according to body weight measured on the day of testing. Animals

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that met the deworming criteria for two consecutive months were only given the

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anthelmintic treatment at first detection.

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No other anthelmintic treatments were administered during the study.

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2.2.

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Parasites were identified as per Valcárcel et al. (2013a).

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2.3.

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The following parameters were measured when comparing study groups:

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monthly live bodyweight; monthly, annual and global FEC; monthly, annual and

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global cumulative FEC; clinical signs; and number of times animals were

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dewormed. Differences between groups (p=0.05 or p<0.01) were estimated by

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t-Student test.

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1. Differences in FEC among Flocks and anthelmintic treatment regimes

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In order to study differences in FEC among Flocks and anthelmintic treatment

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regimes, a factorial-ANOVA was tested, employing average FEC in the first

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year as a dependent variable and the flock and treatment as factors. Scheffé’s

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test was used as a post-hoc analysis.

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established for this analysis.

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Parasite identification

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Data analysis.

A confidence interval of 99% was

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2. Saving of the different anthelmintic treatment regimes in the first year

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A Wilcoxon matched paired test was carried out to determine whether there

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were significant differences between the theoretical number of treatments and

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the number of treatments performed on each flock- anthelmintic treatment

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regime group.

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Two Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed to compare treatment savings among

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flocks and among anthelmintic treatment regimes. Treatment savings are

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defined as the percent reduction in the number of treatments actually performed

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compared to the theoretical number of treatments. These were calculated for

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each anthelmintic treatment regime and for each flock. A multiple comparisons

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of mean ranks test was used as a post-Hoc test. A confidence interval of 95%

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was established for these analyses.

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3. RESULTS

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3.1. Anthelmintic usage

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The number of sheep and goats treated in accordance with TST strategies was

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reduced compared with systematic treatments, especially where treatment was

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based on the clinical signs criterion (100%, in both years) followed by egg

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output (87.57% and 90.44% respectively for year one and two) and finally by

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live weight (37.95% and 96.69% respectively).

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The number of treatments performed was lower than the theoretical number for

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all anthelmintic treatment groups (Table 2). The Wilcoxon matched pairs test

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identified significant differences between the number of theoretical treatments

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and ones actually performed in each group (W=0; p<0.05). As a consequence,

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savings from fewer treatments were statistically significant. In addition, there

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were no significant differences in the number of treatments among flocks (H4=1,

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p>0.05), but important differences were found among treatment regimes

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(H2=10.44; p<0.05; Figure 6). The multiple comparisons test showed that there

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were significant differences between the EOG anthelmintic treatment regime

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and the CSG regime. LWG was between these two.

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3.1.1. Egg Output anthelmintic treatment.

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Reduction in deworming frequency based on Egg Output was quite

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variable, ranging from 48.53% to 100% in year one and from 75% to 100%

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in year two (Table 2).

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A total of 19 anthelmintic treatments were administered to the EOG in year

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one, most of them in flock 1 (14 treatments), followed by flocks 3 (4

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treatments) and 2 (1 treatment). No anthelmintic treatments were needed

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for the EOG in flocks 4 and 5.

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The number of treatments administered from month 13 forward declined

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significantly in the three flocks tested for periods longer than twelve months

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(1 to 3); only five treatments were necessary (four in flock 3 and one in flock

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1).

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3.1.2. Live Weight anthelmintic regime.

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The reduction in the number of times animals were dewormed based on the live

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weight criterion was also very variable among the different flocks, especially in

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year one ranging from 12.50% in flock 3 to 77.94% in flock 1.

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The reduction was similar for the three flocks checked in year two (flocks 1, 2

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and 3; 96.32%, 100% and 93.75%, respectively). A total of 72 and 35

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treatments were needed in the first and second years respectively. These

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treatments were distributed throughout the year in all of the flocks.

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3.1.3. Clinical Signs determining anthelmintic treatment.

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The clinical signs observed were cough, nasal mucus discharge, ticks

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presence (Hyalomma lusitanicum and Rhipicephalus bursa) and lesions in

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oral mucosa (the latter only observed in animals from flocks 2 and 3 due to

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a brief herbage quality) either CSG, LWG or EOG. None of the animals

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exhibited clinical signs warranting deworming.

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Therefore, reduction in annual anthelmintic treatment based on CSG was

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100% for all the flocks.

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3.2. Animal performance

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TST did not appear to influence live bodyweight which was similar in the three

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study groups in all the flocks (Figures 1.I and 2.I).

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We only observed slight isolated differences in live bodyweight between LWG

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and CSG in flock 1 from February to May during the second year (p=0.05).

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No differences in live bodyweight were found between study groups in the other

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flocks.

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3.3. Parasitological results

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3.3.1. GIN pattern

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Through the salt-floatation analysis we regularly observed Trichostrongylidae,

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Nematodirus, Trichuris and Moniezia eggs; Dictyocaulus and protostrongilid first

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stage larvae; and Eimeria oocysts.

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FEC were consistently low throughout the study in all flocks and groups

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(Figures 1.II and 2.II) with a maximum of 275 epg in flock 1. Despite this low

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level, in year one FEC in flocks 1 to 3 exhibited a bimodal pattern with a peak

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three months after starting to graze and a second peak five-six months later.

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FEC was much lower as from month 13.

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FEC in flocks 4 and 5 was very low but a small increase was observed five and

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four months respectively after starting to graze.

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3.3.2. Application of TST

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Factorial ANOVA showed that there were no significant global differences

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among treatments (F(2,199)=0.92; p>0.05), but important difference were

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observed among flocks (F(4,199)=114.21; p<0.05; (Figure 5)). Scheffé’s test

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identified three homogenous groups, flock 1 2 being the two flocks with higher

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average FEC values, flock 2 had an intermediate mean value and flocks 4 and

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5 were the two flocks with the lowest average FEC.

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In flock 1, the mean FEC was higher (95.21 epg) when the Clinical Signs

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criterion was applied, followed by Egg Output and lastly by Live Weight. These

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differences with EOG (81.46 epg) and LWG (78.28 epg) were very significant

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(p<0.01) during the first year (Figure 3.I). Either from month 13 forward (Figure

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3.II) and during the entire study (Figure 3.III), we only observed weak

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differences between CSG and LWG (87.90 epg; 59.64 epg, p=0.05).

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In contrast, FEC in CSG in the other flocks was lower than in EOG and LWG

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but the differences were not significant.

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Similarly, we only observed weak differences (p=0.05) in cumulative FEC

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between CSG and LWG in flock 1 during the first year (1,039.85 epg, 671.04

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epg, Figure 4.I) and during the entire study (1,467.96 epg and 994.16 epg,

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Figure 4.III).

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Monthly FEC and cumulative FEC of the “Colmenareña” breed (flock 3) (Figure

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1.II) were significantly higher than in “Rubia del Molar” (flock 2) (Figure 1.III)

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(p<0.01) as from month two and most of the following months up to the end of

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the study (Figure 1.II and 1.III).

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The results of fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) in other animals from

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flocks 1 to 3 seem to indicate that there was no presence of AR development

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(data not shown).

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FEC was very low throughout the study, especially during the second year, and

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was systematically lower following the administration of Live Weight and Egg

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Output anthelmintic treatments than after the Clinical Sign regime. These

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results suggest a much lower worm burden than that reported in the area at the

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end of the XXth century for both domestic and wild ruminant species (García-

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Romero et al., 1993; Valcárcel and García Romero, 1999; Valcárcel et al.,

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2002). Despite this fact, farmers continue applying the same anthelmintic

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strategies and today small ruminants in the area receive 1.6 anthelmintic doses

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per year specifically to control GIN (Valcárcel et al., 2013b). This indicates that

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farmers are slow to assimilate change as is the case in other parts of Europe

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(Jackson et al., 2009).

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No treatment was administered to any of the animals in the CSG group from all

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the flocks and they maintained low FEC, animal performance and health status,

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suggesting a very low worm burden. Similarly, despite the fact that animals from

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the LWG group required a greater number of treatments, they did not exhibit

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any clinical signs of GIN infection or high egg output. Smaller animals frequently

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met the criteria for several consecutive months warranting deworming. Finally,

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the results obtained for the EOG group are somewhere in the middle between

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the other two.

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FEC does not always reflect the current nematode burden (van Wyk et al.,

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2006) but Egg Output does appear to be an accurate way of identifying animals

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affected by worms (Gallidis et al., 2009). Theoretically, this appears to be the

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most reasonable criterion because only those animals exhibiting a pre-defined

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egg elimination rate are treated. However, it is more expensive because

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requires a greater degree of animal management, regular coprological

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analyses, etc.

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Under the study’s subclinical infection conditions, these criteria did not appear

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to be useful in selecting animals for deworming. However, it is important to note

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that presumably only a small number of animals actually needed anthelmintic

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treatment. The results from flock 1, the only one that reached a minimum

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elimination rate during the study, seem to support this idea and better results

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would be expected in areas with a higher nematode burden as previously

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reported (Greer et al., 2009; Bentounsi et al., 2012; Kenyon et al., 2009b,

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2013). Other authors reported that the Live Weight criterion is very useful in

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identifying animals in need of treatment in areas where the worm burden is

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large enough to produce either severe production loss or disease (Greer et al.,

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2009, 2010; Stafford et al., 2009, Bentounsi et al., 2012) because there is

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evidence to support the hypothesis that both of them are produced by GIN.

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TST based on a health indicator (daily weight gains) and an infection indicator

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(number of eggs per gram of feces) can, in one grazing season, successfully

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control anthelmintic resistance and the negative effects of nematode infections

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(Gaba et al., 2010) and is more readily accepted by farmers needing help in

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organizing TST (Berrag et al., 2009). The success of these approaches will

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depend on the extra profit realized by producers (Kahn and Woodgate, 2012).

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The benefits of a TST program only will be seen where there is a minimum

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worm burden on the farm. It may be difficult to get farmers to accept a TST

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program in areas where only sub-clinical infections tend to occur and/or AR

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goes unreported. TST programs require more management procedures and the

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reduction in the cost of anthelmintic treatments must financially offset the

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economic cost of coprological analysis and management. Therefore, we need to

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change the way we deliver worm control messages, properly expressing the

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reasons to change, invisible pain, innovators and other factors (Woodgate and

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Love, 2012).

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With a view to improving the TST approach and making it more applicable

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under practical farming conditions, the advantages of automated weighing

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systems could be considered (van Wyk et al., 2006; Busin et al., 2014). A few

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extra animals are likely to be treated unnecessarily but this will do no great

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harm to the TST principle (Bath and van Wyk, 2009). In areas where GIN

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infections are sub-clinical, a combination of criteria that are easy to apply and

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acceptable by farmers would probably be most useful in targeting animals for

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deworming; e.g. selecting only those that fulfilled the three criteria for

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deworming and testing only during the spring and autumn seasons.

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Due the low level of elimination of Nematodirus eggs along the study it was not

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possible to extract a conclusion about this genus. However, other parasites as

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ticks or Protostrongylid nematodes could be important targets of parasite control

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strategies in the area. We aware that salt-floatation technique with 1.18 specific

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gravity is not a suitable technique to detect Protostrongylids; but the

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appearance of L1 stages by this technique as well abundant nasal mucous

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discharge during cold months could indicate that we should pay attention on

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them. We also should consider the possible presence of Oestrus ovis, very

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often in the area (Martínez-Valladares et al., 2013), as cause of this nasal

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discharge. Unfortunately we could not perform necropsies to confirm that. In the

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same way, we cannot be sure about the presence or absence of AR because,

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when FECRT was performed, egg elimination were below the recommended

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threshold for FECRT to be reliable (Coles et al., 2006).

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CONCLUSION

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The preliminary results of this study in a low challenge environment show that

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all three of the selection criteria significantly reduced the number of animals

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treated and the cost of anthelmintic treatment maintaining productivity without

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any disturbance of health status or production capacity. Furthermore, these

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results also appear to indicate that systematic anthelmintic treatments are not

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necessary under these circumstances and traditional anthelmintic regimes must

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be modified. Due to the low nematode burden, it was not easy to evaluate which

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of the three anthelmintic regimes was the most appropriate. Further longer

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studies combining these and other TST criteria should be done in order to

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establish realistic parasite control strategies in areas where worm burden is

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very low.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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We are grateful to the INIA for funding this study (project RTA2010-00094-C03).

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We thanks to Mar Puerta, Luis Colmenar and Paloma Díez, veterinarians that

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advised us during the project and also to farmers and all the personal of the “La

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Chimenea” and IMIDRA, specially to Juan José Urquía, Ignacio Tejerina, José

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Luis Lázaro and Manuel Carpintero, that help us a lot during samplings.

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345 REFERENCES

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AEMET (Agencia Estatal de Meteorologia). 2011. Atlas Climatico Iberico. Ed.

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AEMET, Catalogo general de Publicaciones del Ministerio de Medio

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Ambiente y Medio Rural y Marino.

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Bath, G.F., van Wyk, J.A., 2009. The Five Point Check© for targeted selective

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treatment of internal parasites in small ruminants. Small Ruminant Res.

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86, 6-13.

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Bentounsi, B., Meradi, S., Cabaret, J., 2012. Towards finding effective

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indicators (diarrhoea and anaemia scores and weight gains) for the

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implementation of targeted selective treatment against the gastro-

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intestinal nematodes in lambs in a steppic environment. Vet. Parasitol.

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187(1-2), 275-279. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2011.12.024.

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Berrag, B., Ouzir, M., Cabaret, J., 2009. A survey on meat sheep farms in two

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regions of Morocco on farm structure and the acceptability of the targeted

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selective treatment approach to worm control. Vet. Parasitol. 164, 30-35. Busin, V., Kenyon, F., Parkin, T., McBean, D., Laing, N., Sargison, N.D., Ellis,

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K., 2014. Production impact of a targeted selective treatment system

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doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2014.02.012.

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Coles, G.C., Jackson, F., Pomroy, W.E., Prichard, R.K., von Samson-

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Himmelstjerna, G., Silvestre, A., Taylor, M.A., Vercruysse, J. 2006. The

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Cringoli, G., Rinaldi, L., Veneziano, V., Mezzino, L., Vercruysse, J., Jackson, F.,

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2009. Evaluation of targeted selective treatments in sheep in Italy: effects

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Essenwanger, O.M., 2001. General Climatology 1C: Classification of Climates. Elsevier Science.

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Gaba, S., Cabaret, J., Sauvé, C., Cortet, J., Silvestre, A., 2010. Experimental

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and modeling approaches to evaluate different aspects of the efficacy of

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Targeted Selective Treatment of anthelmintics against sheep parasite

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nematodes. Vet. Parasitol. 171, 254-262.

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Gallidis, E., Papadopoulos, E., Ptochos, S., Arsenos, G., 2009. The use of

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targeted selective treatments against gastrointestinal nematodes in

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milking sheep and goats in Greece based on parasitological and

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performance criteria. Vet. Parasitol. 164, 53-58.

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García Romero, C., Valcárcel, F., Cordero del Campillo, M., Rojo Vázquez,

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F.A., 1993. Etiología y epizootiología de las infestaciones por

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tricostrongílidos

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Investigación Agraria. Producción y Sanidad Animales 8(2), 158-168.

Comarca

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Gilleard, J.S., 2006. Understanding anthelmintic resistance: the need for genomics and genetics. Int. J. Parasitol. 36, 1227-1239.

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Greer, A.W., Kenyon, F., Bartley, D.J., Jackson, E.B., Gordon, Y., Donnan,

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A.A., McBean, D.W., Jackson, F., 2009. Development and field

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evaluation of a decision support model for anthelmintic treatments as part

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of a targeted selective treatment (TST) regime in lambs. Vet. Parasitol.

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164, 12-20. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2009.04.017.

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Greer, A.W., McAnulty, R.W., Gibbs, S.J., 2010. Performance-based targeted

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selective anthelmintic treatment regime for grazing dairy calves.

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Proceedings of the 4th Australasian Dairy Science Symposium. Lincoln

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University, Christchurch, New Zealand. 385-389.

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Jabbar, A., Iqbal, Z., Kerboeuf, D., Muhammad, G., Khan, M.N., Afaq, M., 2006.

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Anthelmintic resistance: The state of play revisited. Life Sci. 79, 24132431.

Jackson, F., 1974. New technique for obtaining nematode ova from sheep faeces. Lab. Pract. 23, 65–66 Jackson, F., Bartley, D., Bartley, Y., Kenyon, F., 2009. Worm control in sheep in the future. Small Ruminant Res. 86, 40-45.

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Kahn, L.P., Woodgate, R.G., 2012. Integrated parasite management: products

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for adoption by the Australian sheep industry. Vet. Parasitol. 186(1-2),

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58-64. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2011.11.046. Kenyon, F., Jackson, F., 2012. Targeted flock/herd and individual ruminant treatment

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Kenyon, F., Sargison, N.D., Skuce, P.J., Jackson, F., 2009a. Sheep helminth

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parasitic disease in south eastern Scotland arising as a possible

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consequence of climate change. Vet. Parasitol. 163(4), 293-297. doi:

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Kenyon, F., Greer, A.W., Coles, G.C., Cringoli, G., Papadopoulos, E., Cabaret,

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J., Berrag, B., Varady, M., van Wyk, J.A., Thomas, E., Vercruysse, J.,

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Jackson, F., 2009b. The role of targeted selective treatments in the

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development

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gastrointestinal nematodes of small ruminants. Vet, Parasitol. 164(1), 3-

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Kenyon, F., McBean, D., Greer, A.W., Burgess, C.G., Morrison, A.A., Bartley,

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D.J., Bartley, Y., Devin, L., Nath, M., Jackson, F., 2013. A comparative

424 425

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study of the effects of four treatment regimes on ivermectin efficacy, body weight and pasture contamination in lambs naturally infected with

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gastrointestinal nematodes in Scotland. Int. J. Parasitol. Drugs and Drug

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Resist. 3, 77-84. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2013.02.001.

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Martínez-Valladares, M., Valcárcel, F., Álvarez-Sánchez, M.A., Cordero-Pérez,

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C., Fernández-Pato, N., Frontera, E. Meana, A., Rojo-Vázquez, F.A.

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2013. Efficacy of moxidectin long-acting injectable formulation (1 mg/kg

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body weight) against first instar larvae of Oestrus ovis in naturally

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infected sheep. Vet. Parasitol. 193, 320- 324. Mederos, A., Waddell, L., Sánchez, J., Kelton, D., Peregrined, A.S., Menzies,

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P., Van Leeuwenc, J., Raji´c, A., 2012. A systematic review-meta-

435

analysis of primary research investigating the effect of selected

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alternative treatments on gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep under field

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conditions. Prev. Vet. Med. 104, 1-14. Ouzir,

M.,

Berrag,

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Cabaret,

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2011.

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treatment of ewes against gastro-intestinal nematodes in Morocco. Vet.

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Parasitol. 180, 372- 377.

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Rinaldi, L., Cringoli, G., 2012. Parasitological and pathophysiological methods

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for selective application of anthelmintic treatments in goats. Small

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Ruminant Research 103(1), 18-22.

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Stafford, K.A., Morgan, E.R., Coles, G.C., 2009. Weight-based targeted

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selective treatment of gastrointestinal nematodes in a commercial sheep

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flock. Vet. Parasitol. 164, 59-65.

448 449

Ac

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Summers, B.A., 2009. Climate change and animal disease. Vet. Pathol. 46(6), 1185-1186. doi: 10.1354/vp.09-VP-0139-S-COM.

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Valcárcel, F., García Romero, C., 1999. Prevalence and seasonal pattern of

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caprine trichostrongyles in a dry area of central Spain. J. of Vet. Med.

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Series B. 46, 673-681.

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Valcárcel, F., García Romero, C., Olmeda, A.S., Rojo Vázquez, F.A., 1998. Two

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anthelmintics strategies in the control of ovine trichostrongyles. Research

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and Reviews in Parasitology 58(2), 75-82. Valcárcel, F., Corchero, J., Olmeda, A.S., Rojo Vázquez, F.A., García Romero,

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C., 2002. Gastrointestinal nematode infections of Cervus elaphus in

458

Castilla La Mancha (central Spain).

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Parasitology 62 (3-4), 108-113.

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cr

Research and Reviews in

Valcárcel, F., Rojo-Vázquez, F.A., Olmeda, A.S., Arribas Movillo, B., Márquez

461

Sopeña, L., Fernández Pato, N., 2013a. Atlas of Ovine Parasitology. pp.

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1-138. Ed. Servet, 09/04/2013. ISBN. 978-84-92569-03-8. D.L.: Z232-

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2013.

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Valcárcel, F., Meana, A., Sacristán, E., Uriarte, J., Calvete, C., Calavia, R.,

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Martínez Valladares, M., Rojo-Vázquez, F.A., 2013b. Small ruminants

466

farm management practices in Spain and its influence on the

467

development of anthelmintic resistance. Revista Ibero-Latinoamericana

468

de Parasitología 72 (2): 151-163.

ce pt

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464

van Wyk, J.A., Hoste, H., Kaplan, R.M., Besier, R.B., 2006. Targeted selective

470

treatment for worm management-how do we sell rational programs to

471 472

Ac

469

farmers?. Vet, Parasitol. 139(4), 336-46. Epub 2006 Jun 13.

Woodgate RG, Love S. 2012. WormKill to WormBoss--can we sell sustainable

473

sheep

worm

control?

Vet

474

10.1016/j.vetpar.2011.11.045.

Parasitol.

186(1-2),

51-57.

doi:

475 476 477 20 Page 21 of 35

478

TABLES

479

Table 1. Characteristics of the study flocks. Flock 1: Ovine Extensive System

481

Flock 2: Ovine Semi-extensive Semi-irrigated System with the “Rubia del Molar” breed

482

Flock 3: Ovine Semi-extensive Semi-irrigated System with the “Colmenareña” breed

483

Flock 4: Ovine Semi-extensive System

484

Flock 5CaOrSeS: Caprine Organic Semi-extensive System

485

Asl: above sea level

486

* During the previous five years egg output was regularly low or null

487

** Heaviest animals receive a higher dose

us

cr

ip t

480

an

488

Table 2. Number of animals treated using Targeted Selective Treatment

490

based on fecal egg counts, live weight loss and clinical signs; and

491

reduction

492

administered compared to a systematic treatment regime.

493

Flock 1: Ovine Extensive System

494

Flock 2: Ovine Semi-extensive Semi-irrigated System with the “Rubia del Molar” breed

495

Flock 3: Ovine Semi-extensive Semi-irrigated System with the “Colmenareña” breed

496

Flock 4: Ovine Semi-extensive System

497

Flock 5: Caprine Organic Semi-extensive System

498

EOG animals were only individually treated when elimination was equal to or higher

500 501 502 503 504 505

the

number

of

anthelmintic

treatments

ce pt

ed

in

Ac

499

(%)

M

489

than 300 GIN eggs per gram of feces (epg)

LWG animals were only individually treated when bodyweight was lower than 90% average group weight CSG animals were only individually treated when clinical signs appeared (diarrhea, severe bodyweight loss or anemia) * When an animal met deworming criteria for two consecutive months, the anthelmintic treatment was only administered the first time

21 Page 22 of 35

506

In brackets is the number of animals expected to be treated using the systematic

507

treatment regime of 1.6 treatments per animal per year (Valcárcel et al., 2013b).

508 509 FIGURES

511

Figure 1. Monthly mean of Live weight, GIN, FEC and cumulative FEC for

512

20 (flock 1) and 24 months (flocks 2 and 3) of Targeted Selective

513

Treatment based on fecal egg counts, live weight loss and clinical

514

signs in three small ruminant flocks located in a low challenge

515

environment.

516

Flock 1: Ovine Extensive System

517

Flock 2: Ovine Semi-extensive Semi-irrigated System with the “Rubia del Molar” breed

518

Flock 3: Ovine Semi-extensive Semi-irrigated System with the “Colmenareña” breed

519

EOG animals were only individually treated when elimination was equal to or higher

522 523 524 525 526 527 528

cr

us

an

M

ed

LWG animals were only individually treated when bodyweight was lower than 90% of

ce pt

521

than 300 GIN eggs per gram of feces (epg)

average group weight

CSG animals were only individually treated when clinical signs appeared (diarrhea, severe bodyweight loss or anemia)

* When an animal met deworming criteria for two consecutive months, the anthelmintic

Ac

520

ip t

510

treatment was only administered the first time

Numbers of legend indicate the flock number

529

Figure 2. Monthly mean of Live weight, GIN FEC and cumulative FEC for

530

12 months (flocks 4 and 5) of Targeted Selective Treatment based

531

on fecal egg counts, live weight loss and clinical signs in three

532

small ruminant flocks located in a low challenge environment. 22 Page 23 of 35

533

Flock 4: Ovine Semi-extensive System

534

Flock 5: Caprine Organic Semi-extensive System

535

EOG animals were only individually treated when elimination was equal to or higher

540 541 542 543

ip t

539

average group weight

CSG animals were only individually treated when clinical signs appeared (diarrhea, severe bodyweight loss or anemia)

cr

538

LWG animals were only individually treated when bodyweight was lower than 90% of

* When an animal met deworming criteria for two consecutive months, the anthelmintic

us

537

than 300 GIN eggs per gram of feces (epg)

treatment was only administered the first time Numbers of legend indicate the flock number

an

536

544

Figure 3. Mean GIN FEC during the application of several TST protocols

546

based on fecal egg counts, live weight loss and clinical signs on

547

several small ruminant farm types. Bars with different letters are

548

significantly different.

549

Flock 1: Ovine Extensive System

550

Flock 2: Ovine Semi-extensive Semi-irrigated System with the “Rubia del Molar” breed

551

Flock 3: Ovine Semi-extensive Semi-irrigated System with the “Colmenareña” breed

552

Flock 4: Ovine Semi-extensive System

553

Flock 5: Caprine Organic Semi-extensive System

555 556 557 558 559

ed

ce pt

Ac

554

M

545

EOG animals were only individually treated when elimination was equal to or higher than 300 GIN eggs per gram of feces (epg)

LWG animals were only individually treated when body weight was lower than 90% of average group weight CSG animals were only individually treated when clinical signs appeared (diarrhea, severe bodyweight loss or anemia)

23 Page 24 of 35

560 561 562

* When an animal met deworming criteria for two consecutive months, the anthelmintic treatment was only administered the first time Numbers of x asis indicate the flock number

563

ip t

564 Figure 4. Cumulative GIN FEC during the application of several TST

566

protocols based on fecal egg counts, live weight loss and clinical

567

signs on several small ruminant farm types. Bars with different letters

568

are significantly different.

569

Flock 1: Ovine Extensive System

570

Flock 2: Ovine Semi-extensive Semi-irrigated System with the “Rubia del Molar” breed

571

Flock 3: Ovine Semi-extensive Semi-irrigated System with the “Colmenareña” breed

572

Flock 4: Ovine Semi-extensive System

573

Flock 5CaOrSeS: Caprine Organic Semi-extensive System

574

EOG animals were only individually treated when elimination was equal to or higher

577 578 579 580 581 582

us an

M

ed

LWG animals were only individually treated when bodyweight was lower than 90% of

ce pt

576

than 300 GIN eggs per gram of feces (epg)

average group weight

CSG animals were only individually treated when clinical signs appeared (diarrhea, severe bodyweight loss or anemia)

* When an animal met deworming criteria for two consecutive months, the anthelmintic

Ac

575

cr

565

treatment was only administered the first time

Numbers of x asis indicate the flock number

583 584 585

Figure 5. Average FEC of flocks (1 to 5) and treatment regimes (EOG, LWC, CSG).

24 Page 25 of 35

Vertical bars indicate confidence intervals at 95%. Factorial ANOVA did not find

587

differences among treatment regimes (F(2,199)=0.92; p>0.05) but it found them among

588

flocks (F(4,199)=114.21; p<0.05). Post-hoc analysis stablished three groups: A) flock 1

589

and 2; B) flock 3; C) flock 4 and 5. Threre was not interaction between factors

590

(F(8,119)=1.4; p>0.05).

591

Flock 1: Ovine Extensive System

592

Flock 2: Ovine Semi-extensive Semi-irrigated System with the “Rubia del Molar” breed

593

Flock 3: Ovine Semi-extensive Semi-irrigated System with the “Colmenareña” breed

594

Flock 4: Ovine Semi-extensive System

595

Flock 5: Caprine Organic Semi-extensive System

596

EOG animals were only individually treated when elimination was equal to or higher

average group weight

CSG animals were only individually treated when clinical signs appeared (diarrhea,

601

severe bodyweight loss or anemia)

ed

602

* When an animal met deworming criteria for two consecutive months, the anthelmintic

603

606 607 608

ce pt

605

treatment was only administered the first time

Ac

604

cr

LWG animals were only individually treated when bodyweight was lower than 90% of

599 600

us

than 300 GIN eggs per gram of feces (epg)

M

598

an

597

ip t

586

Figure 6. Saving of treatments among treatments regimes (EOG, LWG,

609

CSG).

610

Points indicate median values, rectangles indicate 25-75% of the observations and

611

vertical bars indicate minimum and maximum values. Kruskal-Wallis test found

612

significant differences among treatment regimes (H2=10.44; p<0.05) and multiple

25 Page 26 of 35

613

comparisons test founded two groups: A) corresponding to EOG, and B) corresponding

614

to CSG. LWG is between these two groups.

615

EOG animals were only individually treated when elimination was equal to or higher

619 620 621 622

average group weight

ip t

618

LWG animals were only individually treated when bodyweight was lower than 90% of

CSG animals were only individually treated when clinical signs appeared (diarrhea, severe bodyweight loss or anemia)

cr

617

than 300 GIN eggs per gram of feces (epg)

* When an animal met deworming criteria for two consecutive months, the anthelmintic

us

616

treatment was only administered the first time

an

623

Ac

ce pt

ed

M

624

26 Page 27 of 35

Flock size

Flock 2 Flock 3 Government owned farm to provide selected individuals for private farmers

Ovine crossed Merino

Ovine Rubia del Molar

900

180

Flock 4 Private meat farm

Flock 5 Private organic milk farm

Ovine Colmenareña

Ovine Alcarreña

Caprine Murciano Granadina

140

2420

500

cr

Species Breed

Flock 1 Private meat farm

us

Type

ip t

Table

Extensive

Semi-extensive Semi-irrigated

Semi-extensive

Semi-extensive

Grazing

most of the time

5-6 six hours a day

5-6 hours a day

6-10 hours a day

Large open areas Continental mountain forest Sometimes shared by cattle and wild red deer

Small area Valley near the Tajo/Jarama rivers. Pasture irrigation commenced at the same time as this study. Both breeds graze together Madrid province 495m asl

mid-mountain area Small area Pastures are not shared

Pastures are not shared

Cuenca province 690m asl

Madrid province 509 m asl

Own

Outside

Reposition: Own

No*

Mid-spring and Mid-autumn

No (organic farm)

Individual weight

Average weight of flock**

-

Outside

Deworming

Mid-spring and Mid-autumn

ep te

Reposition:

M

Cuenca province 1,239m asl

d

Location:

an

System

Average weight of flock**

Check egg output before treatment?

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

-

12 months

12 months

3 months

3 months

Deworming reposition Age at beginning

Ac c

Dose calculation

3 months

Page 28 of 35

ip t

Table

Group size

Months of sampling

1

EOG

17

20

LWG

17

20

CSG

17

20

EOG

11

24

LWG

12

24

CSG

12

EOG

10

LWG

63.24

6 (27.2)

77.94

7 (40.8)

82.84

0 (27.2)

100.00

0 (40.8)

100.00

1 (17.6)

94.32

1 (35.2)

97.16

21.88

15 (38.4)

60.94

M

15 (19.2 0 (19.2)

100.00

0 (38.4)

100.00

24

4 (16.0)

75.00

8 (32.0)

75.00

12.50

15 (32.0)

53.13

0 (28.8)

100.00

24

0 (14.4)

100.00

18

12

0 (28.8)

100.00

20

12

17 (32.0)

46.88

CSG

19

12

0 (30.4

100.00

EOG

19

12

0 (30.4)

100.00

LWG

18

12

20 (28.8)

30.56

CSG

15

12

0 (24.0)

100.00

Ac c

5

15 (40.8)

9

LWG

% reduction

48.53

24

EOG

Number of animals treated

14 (27.2)

10

CSG 4

d

3

% reduction

During all the study

24

ep te

2

Number of animals treated

us

Deworming criterion

an

Flock

cr

During the first 12 months

14 (16.0

Page 29 of 35

50 40 30

20 10 0

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

500

S

O

N D

J

F M A M

J

J

A

S

O N D

J

F M A M

J

ed

150

200

100

100

50

0

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

2500

O

N

D

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

Ac

2000

S

1500 1000 500

0

J

A

S

O N

D

J

F

M A M

J

J

A

S

O N

D

J

F

M A M

J

1800

3500

1500

3000

M

A

M

J

1 EOG

J

A

S

O

N

D

J

1 LWG

M

A

M

J

J

A

1 CSG

S

A

O N D

S

J

O N D

F M A M

J

J

F M A M

J

J

A

J

S

O

N D

J

F M A M

J

A

S

O N D

J

F M A M

J

A

S

O N

J

F M A M

J

1500

600

F

J

S

2000

900

1000

300 F

A

2500

1200

0

J

700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0

200

ce pt

II. FEC (epg)

A

250

300

III. Cumulative FEC (epg)

J

300

400

0

80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

us

80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

60

M an

I. Live weight (kg)

70

cr

i

Figure

500 J

A

S

O

N

D

2 EOG

J

F

M A M

J

J

A

S

2 LWG

O

N

D

J

F

M A M

2 CSG

J

0

J

A

S

O N

D

3 EOG

J

F M A M

J

J

3 LWG

D

3 CSG

Page 30 of 35

Figure 1.

40

40 30

30 20

20

10

10

0

0

S

O

N

D

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

8

A

ed

4

2 0 S

O

N

D

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

20 15 10

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

J

F

140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0

A

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

J

F

120

Ac

25

ce pt

II. FEC (epg)

6

III. Cumulative FEC (epg)

cr

50

us

50

M an

I. Live weight (kg)

i

Figure

100 80 60 40

5

20

0 S

O

N

D

4 EOG

J

F

M

4 LWG

A

M

J

J

4 CSG

A

0 A

M

J

5 EOG

J

A

S

O

5 LWG

N

D

J

F

5 CSG

Page 31 of 35

Figure 2.

III: Mean FEC (epg) From 1st to 20th months (flock 1) From 1st to 24th months (flocks 2,3)

80

100

80

Figure 3. 1 EOG

ab

60

1 EOG

ab

60

40

1 EOG

60

40

20

1 LWG

20

0 1 LWG

1 LWG

1 CSG

1 CSG

1 CSG

i

b

cr

us

a

0 2 EOG

a

40

2 EOG

2 EOG

2 LWG

100

b

M an

a

ed

80

b

ce pt

I: Mean FEC (epg) from 1st to 12th month (all flocks)

100

Ac

II: Mean FEC (epg) From 13th to 20th months (flock 1) from 13th to 24th months (flocks 2, 3)

Figure

2 CSG

3 EOG

3 LWG

3 CSG

a

20

0 2 LWG

2 CSG 3 EOG 3 LWG 3 csg

2 LWG 2 CSG 3 EOG 3 LWG 3 CSG

4 EOG 4 LWG 4 CSG 5 EOG 5 LWG 5CSG

Page 32 of 35

III: Cumulative FEC (epg) From 1st to 20th months (flock 1) From 1st to 24th months (flocks 2,3)

1500

Figure 4. 2000

ab

1000

1 EOG

b

600

400

400

200

0

1 LWG

1200

1000

800

600 1 EOG 1 LWG 1 CSG

1 EOG 1 LWG 1 CSG

1 CSG

i

a

cr

us

200

0 2 EOG

2 EOG

2 EOG

2 LWG 2 CSG

M an

ab

ce pt

800

ed

I: Cumulative FEC (epg) From 1st to 12th months (all flocks)

1000

Ac

II: Cumulative FEC (epg) from 13th to 20th months (flock 1) from 13th to 24th months (flocks 2, 3)

Figure

3 EOG

3 LWG

3 CSG

a

b

500

0 2 LWG

2 CSG 3 EOG 3 LWG 3 CSG

2 LWG 2 CSG 3 EOG 3 LWG 3 CSG

4 EOG 4 LWG 4 CSG 5 EOG 5 LWG 5 CSG

Page 33 of 35

ed ce pt Ac

FEC (epg)

M an

us

cr

i

Figure

Page 34 of 35

Figure 5.

Ac

ce pt

ed

M an

us

cr

i

Figure

Page 35 of 35

Figure 6.