Availability of Haemonchus contortus L3 larvae on pasture at Kiboko: a semi-arid warm agro-climatic zone in Kenya.
A study was carried out to determine the availability of Haemonchus contortus L3 larvae on pasture in a semi-arid warm agro-climatic zone of Kenya. By means of tracer sheep, it was shown that no H. contortus L3 larvae were available on pasture during the dry periods of the year (July-October and February). They were only available on pasture during the rainy season (November-January and March-June). Sheep permanently grazed on the same pasture however, harboured adult H. contortus in their abomasa throughout the year indicating that the perpetuation of haemonchosis in livestock in this agro-climatic zone was greatly dependent on the ability of the parasite to survive in the host throughout all seasons.
Wanyangu
S W
SW
Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, National Veterinary Research Centre, Muguga, Kikuyu, Kenya.
Karimi
S
S
Mugambi
J M
JM
Bain
R K
RK
D000818:Animals; D002980:Climate; D006189:Haemonchus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007422:Intestines / Q000469:parasitology; D007630:Kenya; D007814:Larva; D012756:Sheep / Q000469:parasitology*