Helminth Infections in Dairy Sheep Found in an Extensive Countrywide Study in Greece and Potential Predictors for Their Presence in Faecal Samples
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Sheep Flocks and the Collection of Samples and Information
2.2. Laboratory Examinations
2.3. Data Management and Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Descriptive Results
3.2. Variables Associated with Presence of Helminths in Faecal Samples
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Frequency (Proportion) of Flocks in Which the Presence of Parasitic Elements of the Following Helminths Was Detected | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dd 1 | Fh | Pc | Mon | Trich fam | Tel | Hc | Trich spp. | Chab | Coop | Bun | Nem | Sp | Trichur | Lung | epg 2 > 300 | |
All flocks (n = 325) | 54 (16.7%) | 2 (0.6%) | 7 (2.2%) | 61 (18.8%) | 278 (85.5%) | 278 (85.5%) | 277 (85.2%) | 257 (79.1%) | 206 (63.4%) | 140 (43.1%) | 65 (20.0%) | 61 (18.8%) | 23 (7.1%) | 65 (20.0%) | 58 (17.8%) | 66 (20.3%) |
Mean ± Standard Error of the Mean Parameter in Faecal Samples | ||||||||||||||||
epg | Proportion (%) Tela | Proportion (%) Haem | Proportion (%) Tricho | Proportion (%) Chab | Proportion (%) Coop | Proportion (%) Buno | ||||||||||
All flocks (n = 325) | 214 ± 13 | 54.3 ± 1.3 | 27.4 ± 0.7 | 2.3 ± 0.1 | 0.8 ± 0.1 | 0.5 ± 0.1 | 0.2 ± 0.1 |
Frequency (Proportion) of Flocks in Which the Presence of Parasitic Elements of the Following Helminths Was Detected | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dd 1 | Fh | Pc | Mon | Trich fam | Tel | Hc | Trich spp. | Chab | Coop | Bun | Nem | Sp | Trichur | Lung | epg 2 > 300 | |
Untrea -ted flocks 3 (n = 279) | 49 (17.6%) | 1 (0.4%) | 5 (1.8%) | 53 (19.0%) | 261 (93.5%) | 261 (93.5%) | 260 (93.2%) | 243 (87.1%) | 194 (69.5%) | 128 (45.9%) | 64 (22.9%) | 55 (19.7%) | 19 (6.8%) | 61 (21.8%) | 54 (19.4%) | 66 (24.5%) |
Treated flocks 3 (n = 46) | 5 (10.9%) | 1 (0.2%) | 2 (4.3%) | 8 (17.4%) | 17 (37.0%) | 17 (37.0%) | 17 (37.0%) | 14 (30.4%) | 12 (26.1%) | 9 (19.6%) | 1 (2.2%) | 6 (13.0%) | 4 (8.7%) | 4 (8.7%) | 4 (8.7%) | 0 (0.0%) |
p-value 4 | 0.26 | 0.14 | 0.27 | 0.80 | <0.0001 | <0.001 | <0.001 | 0.001 | 0.008 | 0.037 | 0.43 | 0.28 | 0.64 | 0.038 | 0.08 | <0.0001 |
Mean ± Standard Error of the Mean Parameter in Faecal Samples | ||||||||||||||||
epg | Proportion (%) Tela | Proportion (%) Haem | Proportion (%) Tricho | Proportion (%) Chab | Proportion (%) Coop | Proportion (%) Buno | ||||||||||
Untrea-ted flocks (n = 279) | 242 ± 13 | 59.5 ± 1.1 | 29.8 ± 0.7 | 2.6 ± 0.1 | 0.9 ± 0.0 | 0.6 ± 0.0 | 0.2 ± 0.0 | |||||||||
Treated flocks (n = 46) | 43 ± 11 | 22.4 ± 4.4 | 13.1 ± 2.6 | 0.8 ± 0.2 | 0.3 ± 0.1 | 0.3 ± 0.1 | 0.2 ± 0.0 | |||||||||
p-value 4 | <0.0001 | <0.0001 | <0.0001 | <0.0001 | <0.0001 | 0.004 | 0.001 |
Frequency (Proportion) of Flocks in Which the Presence of Parasitic Elements of the Following Helminths Was Detected | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dd 1 | Fh | Pc | Mon | Trich fam | Tel | Hc | Trich spp. | Chab | Coop | Bun | Nem | Sp | Trichur | Lung | epg 2 > 300 | |
North 3 (n = 87) | 12 (13.8%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | 14 (16.1%) | 87 (100.0%) | 87 (100.0%) | 87 (100.0%) | 82 (94.3%) | 64 (73.6%) | 46 (52.9%) | 22 (25.3%) | 28 (32.2%) | 6 (6.9%) | 19 (21.8%) | 21 (24.1%) | 32 (36.8%) |
Central (n = 127) | 24 (18.9%) | 1 (0.8%) | 2 (1.6%) | 27 (21.2%) | 104 (81.9%) | 104 (81.9%) | 103 (81.1%) | 95 (74.8%) | 77 (60.6%) | 52 (40.9%) | 24 (18.8%) | 22 (17.3%) | 11 (8.7%) | 24 (18.9%) | 20 (15.7%) | 15 (11.8%) |
South (n = 68) | 9 (13.2%) | 1 (1.5%) | 4 (5.9%) | 13 (19.1%) | 45 (66.2%) | 45 (66.2%) | 45 (66.2%) | 42 (61.8%) | 35 (51.5%) | 21 (30.9%) | 8 (11.8%) | 10 (14.7%) | 5 (7.4%) | 14 (20.6%) | 9 (13.2%) | 16 (23.5%) |
Islands (n = 43) | 9 (20.9%) | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (2.3%) | 7 (16.3%) | 42 (97.7%) | 42 (97.7%) | 42 (97.7%) | 38 (88.4%) | 30 (69.8%) | 18 (41.9%) | 11 (25.6%) | 1 (2.3%) | 1 (2.3%) | 8 (18.6%) | 8 (18.6%) | 3 (7.0%) |
p-value 4 | 0.55 | 0.64 | 0.09 | 0.78 | <0.0001 | <0.0001 | <0.0001 | 0.001 | 0.0005 | 0.08 | 0.63 | 0.0003 | 0.58 | 0.95 | 0.29 | <0.0001 |
Mean ± Standard Error of the Mean Parameter in Faecal Samples | ||||||||||||||||
epg | Proportion (%) Tela | Proportion (%) Haem | Proportion (%) Tricho | Proportion (%) Chab | Proportion (%) Coop | Proportion (%) Buno | ||||||||||
North (n = 87) | 296 ± 23 | 63.0 ± 0.9 | 32.1 ± 0.9 | 3.0 ± 0.2 | 1.0 ± 0.8 | 0.7 ± 0.1 | 0.3 ± 0.1 | |||||||||
Central (n = 127) | 164 ± 16 | 51.7 ± 2.3 | 26.6 ± 1.3 | 2.1 ± 0.2 | 0.8 ± 0.1 | 0.5 ± 0.1 | 0.2 ± 0.0 | |||||||||
South (n = 68) | 224 ± 42 | 43.0 ± 3.9 | 20.3 ± 2.0 | 1.7 ± 0.3 | 0.7 ± 0.1 | 0.4 ± 0.1 | 0.1 ± 0.0 | |||||||||
Islands (n = 43) | 177 ± 18 | 61.8 ± 1.9 | 31.5 ± 1.4 | 2.6 ± 0.4 | 0.9 ± 0.1 | 0.6 ± 0.1 | 0.3 ± 0.1 | |||||||||
p-value 4 | 0.0004 | <0.0001 | <0.0001 | 0.001 | 0.035 | 0.34 | 0.63 |
Variables | Odds Ratio 1 (95% Confidence Intervals) | p Value |
---|---|---|
Month into the lactation period at sampling | 0.0003 | |
0–1 (0/5: 0.0%) | reference | - |
2–5 (19/117: 16.2%) | 2.178 (0.116–41.011) | 0.60 |
6–9 (39/141: 27.7%) | 4.239 (0.229–78.463) | 0.33 |
10 and thereafter (8/16: 50.0%) | 11.000 (0.522–231.625) | 0.12 |
Application of reproductive control practices on the farm | 0.048 | |
Yes (13/77 = 16.9%) | reference | - |
No (53/202 = 26.2%) | 1.751 (0.893–3.435) | 0.10 |
Variables | Odds Ratio 1 (95% Confidence Intervals) | p Value |
---|---|---|
Availability of straw bedding | 0.010 | |
Yes (70/227 = 30.8%) | reference | - |
No (24/52 = 46.8%) | 1.922 (1.041–3.551) | 0.037 |
Variables | Odds Ratio 1 (95% Confidence Intervals) | p Value |
---|---|---|
Age of farmer | 0.040 | |
≤50 years (88/166 = 53.0%) | reference | - |
>50 years (72/113 = 63.7%) | 1.557 (0.954–2.540) | 0.08 |
Variables | Odds Ratio 1 (95% Confidence Intervals) | p Value |
---|---|---|
Provision of finished feed (concentrate) to animals throughout the year | 0.024 | |
Yes (54/260 = 20.8%) | reference | - |
No (7/19 = 36.8%) | 2.225 (0.836–5.924) | 0.11 |
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Lianou, D.T.; Arsenopoulos, K.V.; Michael, C.K.; Mavrogianni, V.S.; Papadopoulos, E.; Fthenakis, G.C. Helminth Infections in Dairy Sheep Found in an Extensive Countrywide Study in Greece and Potential Predictors for Their Presence in Faecal Samples. Microorganisms 2023, 11, 571. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11030571
Lianou DT, Arsenopoulos KV, Michael CK, Mavrogianni VS, Papadopoulos E, Fthenakis GC. Helminth Infections in Dairy Sheep Found in an Extensive Countrywide Study in Greece and Potential Predictors for Their Presence in Faecal Samples. Microorganisms. 2023; 11(3):571. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11030571
Chicago/Turabian StyleLianou, Daphne T., Konstantinos V. Arsenopoulos, Charalambia K. Michael, Vasia S. Mavrogianni, Elias Papadopoulos, and George C. Fthenakis. 2023. "Helminth Infections in Dairy Sheep Found in an Extensive Countrywide Study in Greece and Potential Predictors for Their Presence in Faecal Samples" Microorganisms 11, no. 3: 571. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11030571