V. Hooda et al., Variation in resistance to haemonchosis: selection of female sheep resistant to Haemonchus contortus, J HELMINTH, 73(2), 1999, pp. 137-142
Seventy female lambs (6-7 months old) which were exposed to natural infecti
ons of Haemonchus contortus were designated as responders or nonresponders
on the basis of 10 weekly cumulative faecal egg counts. Selected responder
and non-responder lambs were treated with ivermectin, housed separately and
6 weeks post-housing, seven lambs from each group were given a trickle inf
ection of Haemonchus contortus at 1000 L-3 daily for 5 days per week up to
2 weeks and examined weekly for 10 weeks after first infection. Analysis of
data revealed significantly lower mean faecal egg counts and non-significa
ntly less weight loss in responder than non-responder lambs. Mean values of
haemoglobin, packed cell volume, total serum protein and peripheral eosino
phil counts were significantly higher in responders than non-responders. In
contrast, serum pepsinogen concentration was significantly less in respond
ers than in non-responders. At 10 weeks post-infection, there were fewer pa
thological lesions and significantly lower worm burdens in responders than
in nonresponders. These results demonstrate a distinct resistance in respon
ders to Haemonchus contortus infection.