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Biomedical subjects

R L Coop

Publications and source records attributed to R L Coop.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Rapid improvement of immunity to Teladorsagia circumcincta is achieved through a reduction in the demand for protein in lactating ewes.

Protein supplementation can improve the resistance to parasites of periparturient ewes, as indicated by reduced nematode egg excretion and worm burdens. However, the rate at which this improvement can occur is largely unknown. We investigated the rate of improvement by assessing temporal changes in faecal egg counts after we experimentally reduced nutrient demand. Three groups of nine pregnant ewes each were trickle infected with Teladorsagia circumcincta from day(-70) to day(16) (parturition is day0). Two groups of twin-rearing ewes were fed at 0.8 (L22) or 1.2 (H22) times their assumed metabolizable protein requirements, and a third group was fed the same daily food allowances as L22 ewes, but one of their lambs was removed on day10 (L21). Ewes were slaughtered on day21 to assess worm burdens, in vitro larval establishment on abomasal explants, and mucosal inflammatory cells. Faecal egg counts of L22 ewes were higher than H22 ewes throughout lactation. After the removal of one lamb, faecal egg counts of L21 ewes decreased within 5 days to levels similar to H22 ewes. Relative to L22 ewes, L21 and H22 ewes had lower worm burdens, parasite per capita fecundity and in vitro establishment rates of both T. circumcincta and Haemonchus contortus. Mucosal mast cell and eosinophil counts were similar for all ewes, but H22 ewes had higher globule leukocyte counts than L22 and L21 ewes. The data suggest that a reduction in protein demand can rapidly improve periparturient immunity to T. circumcincta. This may be associated with increased parasite expulsion, reduced fecundity and non-parasite specific reduction of in vitro larval establishment.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗
PubMed2005

The effect of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on infection with the nematodes Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia oncophora in calves.

Diet-induced changes in the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content of immune cells influences the immune phenotype that develops following infection. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of manipulating dietary PUFA supply on tissue fatty acids composition and immunity to a mixed infection with an abomasal and an intestinal nematode parasite in calves. Calves (n=24) were allocated into two treatment groups and fed 25 g/day of either fish oil (n-3 group) or a binary mixture of palm/rapeseed oil (normal group) as a supplement in milk replacer. Within each treatment group eight calves were infected with 2000 L3 Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia oncophora, three times per week for 8 weeks, the remaining calves were pair-fed uninfected controls. Faecal egg counts (FEC) were carried out twice weekly. At slaughter, the whole gut was removed intact for worm counts and tissue samples were taken for fatty acid analysis. Samples of abomasum, duodenum and mid-gut were also collected for immunohistological analysis. FEC were not significantly influenced by oil supplement but tended to remain higher in the palm/rapeseed oil-fed group (normal infected). The number of intestinal immature worms was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the n-3 group. Mucosal mast cell (MMC) and eosinophil numbers were significantly increased (p<0.05) by infection and were significantly lower (p<0.05) in the intestinal tissue of the fish oil supplemented and infected group (n-3 infected group). These results suggest that feeding an n-3 PUFA-rich supplement (fish oil) can influence cellular mediators of immunity to nematode infection. This is the first report of the establishment of patency and the subsequent development of immunity to a mixed infection with O. ostertagi and C. oncophora in calves undergoing early rumen development. The trend in the FEC, MMC and eosinophil numbers in the n-3 group suggests that decreasing the dietary n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio may be a worthwhile immunonutritional strategy for potentiating the immune response to nematode parasite infection in the calf.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Effects of protein supply and reproductive status on local and systemic immune responses to Teladorsagia circumcincta in sheep.

The effects of protein supply and reproductive status on circulating antibody responses and local inflammatory cell counts were investigated in parasitized sheep, with local immune responses assessed through a recently refined abomasal cannulation methodology. We hypothesized that if breakdown of immunity has a nutritional basis, then protein scarcity would result in a breakdown of immunity to Teladorsagia circumcincta in both periparturient and non-reproducing (barren) ewes. Twin-bearing and barren, abomasally cannulated ewes were fed at either 0.8 or 1.3 times protein requirements from 3 weeks before until 6 weeks after parturition (n = 6). All sheep were trickle infected at a rate of 10,000 infective larvae (L3) per day, for 3 days per week throughout the experiment. Faecal egg counts remained virtually zero in all barren ewes, whilst protein supplementation reduced faecal egg counts in the periparturient ewes during most of the periparturient period. Final worm burdens, taken at 6 weeks into lactation, were lower for the barren ewes than for the lactating ewes, whilst protein supplementation reduced worm burdens in the latter. Protein supply did not affect mucosal mast cell counts, which were consistently higher for the barren ewes than the periparturient ewes, but were temporarily decreased around parturition. Barren ewes and protein supplemented lactating ewes had higher globule leukocyte counts than the unsupplemented lactating ewes. Protein supplementation increased eosinophil counts in the lactating ewes though only during the later part of the lactation period. Plasma IgA anti-L3 antibody was similar for all ewes, but IgE anti-L3 antibody was higher for the protein supplemented periparturient ewes compared to the unsupplemented periparturient ewes and all barren ewes. It is likely that the combination of low protein requirements and large body protein reserves did not result in breakdown of immunity to T. circumcincta for the barren ewes. These results suggest that changes in mucosal mast cell and eosinophil counts are not necessarily associated with changes in host resistance to T. circumcincta. However, the data support the view that increased globule leukocyte counts and plasma IgE anti-L3 antibody may be associated with nutritionally improved expression of immunity in periparturient ewes.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗
PubMed2005

The consequences of short-term grazing of bioactive forages on established adult and incoming larvae populations of Teladorsagia circumcincta in lambs.

The objective of this study was to investigate the consequences of short-term grazing on bioactive forages on (i) the viability and fecundity of established adult Teladorsagia circumcincta population and (ii) the establishment and development of incoming T. circumcincta infective larvae. Forty-eight, parasite naive, 3-month old, grazing lambs were artificially infected with 8000 infective larvae of T. circumcincta on day 1 of the experiment. On day 21 p.i., lambs were allocated to one of three bioactive forage grazing treatments; chicory (Cichorium intybus), sulla (Hedysarum coronarium), lotus (Lotus pedunculatus), and the control grass/clover (Lolium perenne/Trifolium repens) forage. On day 28 of the experiment a second dose of 8000 T. circumcincta infective larvae was administered to the lambs to investigate the effects of forages on the ability of infective larvae to establish within the host. All animals were slaughtered for worm recovery on day 35, while liveweight gain, feacal egg counts (FEC) and total worm egg output were monitored regularly throughout the experiment. Although FEC or total egg output were similar among the groups, adult worm burdens at slaughter were significantly affected (P<0.05) by forage treatment during the 2 week grazing period. Lambs grazing chicory had the lowest adult worm burdens and significantly lower numbers of male worms compared to those grazing on grass/clover (P<0.01), while the lambs grazing on sulla or lotus had similar adult populations to grass/clover fed animals. The results from the worm recoveries of the second dose (immature worm burdens) were affected by physiologically and/or immunologically mediated mechanisms, which reduced larval establishment in all treatments. Nevertheless, immature worm burdens at slaughter were similar between chicory, sulla and grass/clover group, while the immature worm recoveries from the lotus group were significantly higher (P<0.05) compared to those from lambs grazing grass/clover. Overall, the results of the present study support the view that chicory can be a promising candidate species in pasture management practices to control T. circumcincta burdens.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2004

Testing for direct anthelmintic effects of bioactive forages against Trichostrongylus colubriformis in grazing sheep.

The aim of the present study was to investigate potential direct anthelmintic effects of forages that contain plant secondary metabolites (PSM) towards the intestinal nematode Trichostrongylus colubriformis. For this purpose, we introduced an experimental design, which enabled us to investigate the direct anthelmintic effects of PSM-rich forages, without significant interference of possible indirect immunological effects of PSM. Sixty parasite naive sheep were infected with 8000 T. colubriformis L(3) on day 1 of the experiment. On day 28, sheep entered one of the experimental plots, which consisted of four PSM-rich forages and one control: Lotus pedunculatus (lotus), Hedysarium coronarium (sulla), Onobrychis viciifolia (sainfoin), Cichorium intybus (chicory) and Lolium perenne/Trifolium repens (grass/clover). On day 35 of the experiment, all sheep were re-infected with 8000 T. colubriformis L(3) and were killed on day 42. By day 42, all parasites of the primary infection would have been recovered as adults, whereas those of the secondary challenge would have only developed to the fourth stage larvae within a week (i.e. days 35-42). The first batch of larvae would enable us to investigate possible direct anthelmintic effects of PSM-rich forages against adult T. colubriformis, whereas the second one whether grazing on the PSM-rich forages could affect the establishment of the incoming infective larvae. Sheep grazing on lotus tended to have a lower FEC compared to sheep grazing on grass/clover (P = 0.06), whereas daily faecal output was higher in sheep grazing lotus compared to those grazing on the other forages (P < 0.05). As a consequence, daily egg output was similar in all sheep. Grazing on the PSM-rich forages for a period of 2 weeks did not affect the immature and adult parasite populations. Although the present experimental design enabled us to test the experimental hypothesis, the lack of evidence on a direct anthelmintic effect of PSM-rich forages can not be considered conclusive, as the composition of PSM-rich forages is variable within and across grazing seasons.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2004

The sequential analysis of local inflammatory cells during abomasal nematode infection in periparturient sheep.

A technique to take sequential tissue biopsy samples in multiparous, periparturient ewes from the abomasal mucosa is described, developed in parallel in Scotland and New Zealand. Samples were extracted via abomasal cannulae inserted into the wall of the abomasum and exteriorised through dorso-ventral laparotomy. Animals recovered quickly post-surgery, and tolerated the cannula and sampling without any adverse signs of pain or discomfort. The technique was deployed in two pilot studies to investigate the sequential mucosal inflammatory cell responses in well-defined parasitological models, during the periparturient relaxation of immunity in ewes infected with gastrointestinal nematodes and subjected to different feeding treatments. One experiment (Moredun Research Institute, Scotland) involved the infection of twin-bearing ewes with Teladorsagia circumcincta L3 either before, or after lambing. By feeding ewes with different levels of protein supplementation, preliminary data on the impact of nutrition on the eosinophil, mucosal mast cell and globule leucocyte responses during this period were investigated. A similar study was also performed at Lincoln University, New Zealand, to investigate these cell responses in sheep fed relatively high or low protein diets during pregnancy, and infected with a combined immunisation regime of T. circumcincta and Trichostrongylus colubriformis L3. These studies confirmed the phenomenon termed the periparturient relaxation in immunity (PPRI) where a transitory increase in faecal egg counts is observed during late pregnancy and lactation, and this effect was exacerbated during protein undernutrition. Although the number of animals was low in each experiment and the cell responses variable, the results together suggest a reduction in the number of mucosal mast cells and globule leucocyte during the PPRI when protein supply was restricted. The present paper thus describes a successful technique to monitor ovine mucosal cell populations during local immune responses in normal and pregnant sheep. It is envisaged that this technique will be a powerful adjunct to investigations into mucosal immune mechanisms and disease pathogenesis, and will be employed to confirm the influence of dietary protein on the local inflammatory cell responses during the PPRI.

Abomasum↗
PubMed2003

Is the allocation of metabolisable protein prioritised to milk production rather than to immune functions in Teladorsagia circumcincta-infected lactating ewes?

It has been suggested that the periparturient breakdown of immunity to parasites has a nutritional basis. Our overall hypothesis is that it results from a prioritised scarce nutrient allocation to reproductive functions (e.g. milk production) rather than to immune functions. We tested this hypothesis by offering five levels of dietary metabolisable protein, ranging from 0.65 to 1.25 times their assumed requirements, for 4 weeks post-parturition to twin-rearing Greyface ewes, experimentally infected with Teladorsagia circumcincta. We hypothesised that the initial increments of metabolisable protein supply would increase milk production without affecting the degree of breakdown of immunity whilst later increments would reduce the degree of breakdown of immunity. The first two increments of metabolisable protein supply indeed increased milk production and did not affect final worm burdens, but in contrast to the expectation, reduced faecal egg counts and total egg output. The last two increments of metabolisable protein supply did not further affect milk production and egg output, but resulted in reduced final worm burdens. Metabolisable protein supply did not affect plasma IgG and IgE antibody against somatic L(3) antigen but the first three increments reduced plasma pepsinogen and plasma IgA antibody. The last increment did not further reduce plasma pepsinogen but increased plasma IgA. Metabolisable protein supply did not systematically affect abomasal mucosal mast cell, globule leukocyte and eosinophil counts. Our results support the view that the priority of scarce metabolisable protein allocation to milk production over immune functions may be gradual rather than absolute. The contrast between effects of metabolisable protein supply on faecal egg count and final worm burden points towards the possibility that if different effector responses regulate fecundity and worm expulsion, then they would differ in their sensitivity towards changes in the degree of nutrient scarcity.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Direct anthelmintic effects of condensed tannins towards different gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep: in vitro and in vivo studies.

In vitro and in vivo studies were conducted to determine possible direct anthelmintic effects of condensed tannins towards different ovine gastrointestinal nematodes. A larval development/viability assay was used to investigate the effect of a condensed tannin extract (Quebracho) towards larvae of Haemonchus contortus, Teladorsagia circumcincta and Trichostrongylus vitrinus. The development to infective larvae and their viability was assessed in all three species and LD 50 values were calculated. The presence of Quebracho extract in the cultures decreased the viability of L3 in all species; the LD 50 were not significantly different for the different species. Forty-eight sheep were allocated to one of eight groups and were infected with a single dose of either 4000 L3 H. contortus (groups 1 and 2) or 5000 L3 T. colubriformis and 5000 L3 Nematodirus battus simultaneously (groups 3-6) or 10,000 L3 of T. circumcincta (groups 7 and 8). From day 28 until day 31 of the experiment, sheep infected with the intestinal species were drenched with Quebracho extract at 4, 8 or 16% w/w of food intake, or remained as undrenched controls; sheep infected with the abomasal species were either drenched with Quebracho extract at 8% w/w of food intake or remained as undrenched controls. All sheep were slaughtered 4 days after the end of the drenching period. Sheep infected with the intestinal species and drenched with 16% w/w Quebracho had lower FEC compared to sheep drenched with 8% w/w (P<0.05), which in turn were lower than in sheep either drenched with 4% Quebracho or which remained undrenched (P<0.05). The lowest intestinal worm burden was recovered from sheep drenched with 8% w/w Quebracho extract (P<0.05). The administration of Quebracho extract at 8% of food intake for 3 days did not affect FEC or worm burdens in sheep infected with the abomasal species compared to controls.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2001

Influence of host nutrition on the development and consequences of nematode parasitism in ruminants.

Control of gastrointestinal nematodes of ruminants is based largely on use of anthelmintics combined, where practical, with pasture management. The increasing prevalence of resistance to anthelmintics has led to the search for alternative sustainable control strategies. Here, we consider how nutrition, as a short-term alternative, can influence the host--parasite relationship in ruminants, using gastrointestinal nematode infections of sheep as the model system. Nutrition can affect the ability of the host to cope with the consequences of parasitism and to contain and eventually to overcome parasitism. It can also affect the parasite population through the intake of antiparasitic compounds.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2001

The expression of immunity to Teladorsagia circumcincta in ewes and its relationship to protein nutrition depend on body protein reserves.

We hypothesized that expression of immunity to gastrointestinal nematodes and its relationship with dietary metabolizable protein (MP) supply in ewes depended on body protein--but not on body fat reserves. Twin-bearing ewes were trickle infected with Teladorsagia circumcincta. Three mid-pregnancy feeding treatments were used, calculated to maintain body reserves (HH), maintain body protein- and lose body fat reserves (HL), or lose body reserves (LL), and followed by 2 isoenergetic, periparturient feeding treatments, calculated to provide either scarce (LP) or adequate (HP) amounts of MP. At the end of the mid-pregnancy feeding treatment, HL- and LL-ewes had a smaller backfat depth (approximately body fat reserves) than HH-ewes, and LL-ewes had a smaller muscle depth (approximately body protein reserves) and higher faecal egg counts (FEC) than HH- and HL-ewes. Overall, LL-ewes had higher periparturient FEC than HH- and HL-ewes, and LP-ewes had higher periparturient FEC than HP-ewes. However, LL-ewes offered the LP feed had higher periparturient FEC than ewes on any of the other combinations of feeding treatments. Feeding treatments affected plasma pepsinogen but not plasma IgA. The results support the view that body protein- but not body fat reserves may overcome consequences of dietary MP scarcity on periparturient breakdown of immunity to gastrointestinal nematodes.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2001

The effects of condensed tannins supplementation of foods with different protein content on parasitism, food intake and performance of sheep infected with Trichostrongylus colubriformis.

The aims of the present study were to investigate (1), the potential anthelmintic properties and (2), the nutritional consequences of commercially available condensed tannins on parasitised sheep fed, ad libitum, either a high- or a low-protein food. For this purpose, forty-eight previously parasite-naïve sheep (n 12) were infected with 2000 Trichostrongylus colubriformis larvae/d for a 67-d experimental period. Two experimental foods were made: a low (L), formulated to be inadequate in meeting the requirements of growing sheep for metabolisable protein (MP), and based on wheat, citrus pulp, and oatfeed; a high (H), expected to be above the requirements of growing sheep for MP, based on similar ingredients but supplemented with protected soyabean meal. Two additional foods were made by adding 60 g Quebracho (a condensed tannins (CT) extract)/kg fresh matter to foods L and H (foods LQ and HQ respectively). This level of Quebracho supplementation has been previously shown to reduce the level of parasitism in restrictedly fed, parasitised sheep. The experiment was divided into two periods: period 1 (P1, day 1-38) and period 2 (P2, day 39-67), each one associated with different phases of an intestinal parasitic infection. Six sheep from each group were slaughtered at the end of P1, and the remaining sheep were slaughtered at the end of P2 (day 67). Although faecal egg counts (FEC; number of parasite eggs/g faeces) and total egg output were reduced in sheep offered the supplemented foods during P1 (P<0.05), worm burdens on day 38 were unaltered. Neither Quebracho supplementation nor food protein content during P2 affected FEC and worm burdens. Food intake and performance were higher in sheep offered food HQ compared with sheep offered food H (P<0.05); no differences were observed in sheep offered foods LQ and L throughout the experiment. The previously shown anthelmintic properties of CT were not observed following ad libitum intake of either low- or high-protein foods supplemented with Quebracho extract. Higher levels of CT supplementation may be required to reduce parasitism and consequently improve the performance of parasitised sheep, when fed ad libitum. Supplementation with CT conferred advantages on the performance of parasitised sheep on a high- but not on a low-protein food.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2001

Interactions between nutrition and gastrointestinal parasitism in sheep.

Effects of gastrointestinal nematode infection on metabolism and nutrient utilisation in sheep are reviewed. Infection induces protein deficiency by increasing the demand for amino acids in the alimentary tract while reducing supply through depression of appetite. Mechanisms through which improved protein nutrition could improve the performance of the host are then discussed. Opportunities for capitalising on such effects are limited by our rudimentary understanding of the cell-mediated immune response in gastrointestinal epithelial tissue. Both resistance of the animal to larval establishment and performance in the face of larval challenge can be enhanced by improved protein nutrition. However, enhanced immune responses may not necessarily be synonymous with improved productivity except at luxurious levels of protein intake, because of apparently competing demands for protein. Such levels of protein nutrition are difficult to achieve in pasture-based systems, because of the protein limiting role of the rumen. Work with proteinprotecting tannins to overcome this limitation is discussed. The much more limited evidence for effect of mineral nutrition, particularly copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), cobalt (Co) and phosphorus (P), on outcome of larval challenge is also reviewed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Can an increased intake of metabolizable protein affect the periparturient relaxation in immunity against teladorsagia circumcincta in sheep?

Within the overall hypothesis that the periparturient relaxation of immunity (PPRI) to gastrointestinal parasites has a nutritional basis, we studied whether an increased intake of metabolizable protein (MP) could affect the expression of immunity to Teladorsagia (Ostertagia) circumcincta of twin-bearing and -rearing Greyface ewes. Two sets of iso-energetic diets were formulated to provide either 85% (L-) or 130% (H-) of the MP requirements during the last 6 weeks of pregnancy (-P) and the first 6 weeks of lactation (-L). Thirty ewes were allocated to LP or HP. Six ewes of each group were slaughtered after lambing (S(0)); the remaining 24 ewes of each group were allocated to either LL or HL, thus creating four treatment combinations during lactation (LP/LL, LP/HL, HP/LL and HP/HL; n=12). Six ewes of each treatment combination were slaughtered at Week 3 (S(3)) or at Week 6 (S(6)) in lactation. The HP ewes were heavier at lambing, produced heavier lambs, had lower faecal egg counts (FECs), a lower concentration of plasma pepsinogen, a higher concentration of plasma albumin during late pregnancy and more abomasal globule leukocytes (GLs) but similar worm burdens at S(0) compared to the LP ewes. The LP/HL and HP/HL ewes had a higher calculated milk production than the LP/LL and HP/LL ewes. FECs increased for each treatment combination during the first 3 weeks of lactation. This increase concurred with fewer abomasal GLs at S(3) compared to S(0). The LP/HL and HP/HL ewes had a higher proportion of immature worms and more abomasal GLs than the LP/LL and HP/LL ewes at S(6). The FECs continued to increase during the second 3 weeks of lactation for the LP/LL ewes only, which concurred with an elevated plasma pepsinogen concentration and an absence of abomasal GLs at S(6). The plasma pepsinogen concentration decreased rapidly for the LP/HL ewes during lactation. We conclude that an increased intake of MP could enhance the expression of immunity to T. circumcincta of twin-bearing and -rearing Greyface ewes.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2000

Effects of short-term exposure to condensed tannins on adult Trichostrongylus colubriformis.

Twelve parasite-naive sheep were used to study the possible direct anthelmintic effect of a condensed tannin extract (quebracho) on the population and fecundity of the intestinal nematode Trichostrongylus colubriformis. The sheep were infected with a single dose of 20,000 L3 of T colubriformis. Twenty-eight days later, six of them were drenched daily for a week with quebracho extract at 8 per cent by weight of their food intake. All lambs were then slaughtered, and their small intestines removed to estimate the worm burdens and the numbers of eggs in utero. Two days after the first drench with tannin extract the faecal egg counts of the treated sheep were approximately 50 per cent of those of the control sheep (P<0.01), but there was no further reduction with continued drenching. In the treated sheep the worm burdens and number of eggs per gram faeces per worm were reduced by 30 per cent compared with the controls (P<0.05), but the sex ratios, the number of eggs in utero and length of the worms were not affected by drenching with tannin.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed2000

Consequences of long-term feeding with condensed tannins on sheep parasitised with Trichostrongylus colubriformis.

Naive wethers were used to investigate the long-term effects of dietary condensed tannins from Quebracho extract, during an intestinal parasitic infection in sheep. Sheep were allocated to eight groups; seven groups were daily infected with 3000 L(3) Trichostrongylus colubriformis for 10 weeks and the eighth group was the uninfected control. The 10-week experiment was divided into two periods; Period 1 (P(1), week 1-5) corresponded to high worm establishment and acquisition of immunity, whereas Period 2 (P(2), week 6-10) to the established worm population and expression of host immunity. Three experimental foods with similar composition were formulated: Q0, Q3 and Q6. Their difference was in the content of Quebracho extract which was 0, 30 and 60 g per kg fresh matter, respectively. All foods were offered at an allowance of 3.5% of sheep liveweight. During P(1), parasitised sheep were offered one of the three experimental foods and during P(2) they either remained on the same food or changed food according to the design (P(1)-P(2)): Q0-Q0, Q0-Q3, Q0-Q6, Q3-Q0, Q3-Q3, Q6-Q0, Q6-Q6. Control sheep were offered the allowance of Q0 throughout. Sheep that consumed Q3 and Q6 reduced their faecal egg counts (FEC) compared to sheep offered Q0, during both periods (P<0.05). No differences were observed in the FEC between sheep offered Q3 and Q6. The changeover from Q0 in P(1) to either Q3 or Q6 during P(2), was accompanied by a reduction in FEC (P<0.05), whereas an increase in FEC was observed when food changed from Q3 or Q6 to Q0 (P<0.05). Worm burdens and fecundity at the end of the experiment were reduced in sheep offered foods Q3 and Q6 compared to sheep offered Q0. A significant decrease in liveweight gain and in food conversion efficiency of parasitised sheep offered Q3 and Q6 compared to sheep offered Q0, was observed in P(1) (P<0.05) but not in P(2). By the end of the experiment control sheep had achieved higher liveweight and converted food more efficiently than parasitised sheep (P<0.05). In conclusion, evidence for a long-term effect of Quebracho extract, during both the initial establishment and on the established T. colubriformis population in sheep, was provided by the present study. It is suggested that the effect observed was a direct anthelmintic effect of the condensed tannins included in sheep diets.

Animal Feed↗