title: An analysis of seroprevalence and risk factors for parasitic infections of economic importance in small ruminants in Greece.
abstract: A cross-sectional serological survey was carried out to screen the small ruminants of Thessaly, Greece, for infection with Haemonchus contortus, lungworms (i.e. Cystocaulus ocreatus, Muellerius capillaris, Protostrongylus rufescens and Neostrongylus linearis) as a group, and for Cysticercus tenuicolis, Linguatula serrata and Oestrus ovis. A second objective was to determine the risk factors related to herd characteristics, management practices, farmer status and bioclimatic variables associated with these parasitic infections. A total of 361 sheep and 179 goat serum samples were examined. The seroprevalences were 33.9%, 41.5%, 14.1%, 4.6% and 1.4% for H. contortus, lungworms, L. serrata, C. tenuicolis and O. ovis, respectively. The final logistic regression model showed that farm location and temperature were associated with H. contortus, lungworm and L. serrata infections. Anthelmintic treatment, class of anthelmintic and rotation of grazing were associated with H. contortus and lungworm infections, while grazing with other herds was associated with lungworm and L. serrata infections; rain was associated with H. contortus and L. serrata infections. Farm type and age of farmer were associated with H. contortus infections and elevation was associated with lungworm infection. The results may help to formulate appropriate control strategies in Greece and other areas with similar climatic conditions in order to channel limited resources to mitigate only those risk factors which are significant to protect the profitability of the livestock industry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal production, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Science, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 222, Dschang, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Marc K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kouam
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diakou
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals, Faculty of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, Votanikos, Athens 11855, Greece.
authors.forename: Vaia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kantzoura
authors.affiliation: Department of Meteorology and Climatology, School of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece.
authors.forename: Haralambos
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Feidas
authors.affiliation: Department of Home Economics and Ecology, Harokopio University, 70 E. Venizelos, Athens 17671, Greece.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Theodoropoulou
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals, Faculty of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, Votanikos, Athens 11855, Greece. Electronic address: gtheo@aua.gr.
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Theodoropoulos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000077784:Axitinib; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D006041:Goats; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles; D007191:Indazoles; D008875:Middle Aged; D010273:Parasitic Diseases, Animal / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; D007191:Indazoles; D000077784:Axitinib
keywords: Economic; Environment; Parasite; Risk factors; Seroprevalence