DefinePK

Abstract

The study was carried out to investigate the relationship amongst faecal egg count (FEC), FEC-Hc (Haemonchus contortus), packed cell volume and FAMACHA© score from 587 goats during the six study months (April – September, 2013). The three methods used for evaluating Haemonchosis i.e. FEC, packed cell volume, FAMACHA© score, were compared to test the FAMACHA© method for its accuracy and efficacy in detecting haemonchosis in Assam. In goats with egg per gram (EPG) level of 2050-2500, most of the goats fell in category 3 with pink eye colour, EPG level 3050-3500, most of the goats fell in category 4 with pink-white eye colour. Similarly, with EPG level 3550-4000, most of the goats fell in category 5 with white eye colour. Animals showed anaemic and severe anaemic conditions with the constant increase in the level of worm infection. It was also found that when the PCV level decreases the EPG increases and vice-versa. The faecal egg output of all GIN genera was high for this region throughout the study period. Based on the results of the larval culture, H. contortus was the predominant GIN species on all the study areas. FEC and FEC-Hc flucturated over the study period with a maximum in the month of August (FEC = 3004.66 and FEC-Hc = 2000.00) and minimum in the month of September (FEC = 1519.23 and FEC-Hc = 1075.00). With the increasing of FAMACHA© score the PCV values decreases. This study revealed highly significant correlation between FEC and FAMACHA© eye scoring. In conclusion, FAMACHA© method was found to be a reasonably good indicator of Clinical Anaemia Caused by Haemonchus spp. in Goats of Assam.