title: FAMACHA© system assessment by previously trained sheep and goat farmers in Brazil.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the degree of adoption and the correct use of the FAMACHA© system amongst sheep and goat farmers trained in a previous hands-on course. A survey was carried out with 1375 people who received FAMACHA© training from July 2009 to May 2011 in Paraná State, Brazil. The survey was conducted from March 2012 to May 2013. Firstly, a questionnaire was applied with specific questions for farmers about their anthelmintic (AH) treatment practices before and after the FAMACHA© training. In a second step, eight of the questionnaire respondents classified as sheep or goat farmers were contacted for an in loco visit during which the application of the FAMACHA© system was evaluated in the respective farms and blood samples were collected from 20 animals to calculate sensitivity and specificity. A total of 124 farmers responded the questionnaire (9% of project participants). Farmers accounted for 48.4% of total responses. Half of these farmers (51.6%) reported losses related to parasites in their property before the training. Antiparasitic treatments, at fixed intervals, were responsible for 93.1% of deworming practices before the training project. FAMACHA© was unknown for 51.7% of the respondents, and 31% knew the chart, but did not use it. After the project, 69% had adopted the system and 83% assessed the animals at regular intervals. However, 18.9% did not evaluate all animals. During the in loco visits, problems reported included the incorrect exposure of the ocular mucosa (50% of farmers) and not using the chart (87.5%). Also, 62.5% did not keep records of the FAMACHA© assessment history of the flock. However, sensitivity was 100%, with 0% false negatives. We conclude that, amongst farmers who adopted the system, despite some methodological errors regarding its use, the objectives were met in terms of reducing the number of anthelmintic treatments and providing anemic animals with AH treatment. Trained farmers seemed to require technical guidance post-training to promote effective use of the FAMACHA© system.
authors: Graduate Program in Animal Science, School of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná (PUCPR), São José dos Pinhais, Paraná 83010-500, Brazil. Electronic address: dherimaia@hotmail.com.
authors: Dhéri
authors: D
authors: Maia
authors: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Ceara St, n/n, Block2T, Office 104, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais 38405-315, Brazil. Electronic address: fermoraes@famev.ufu.br.
authors: Fernanda
authors: F
authors: Rosalinski-Moraes
authors: Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootécnia de la Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Km 15.5 carretera Mérida, Xmatkuil, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico. Electronic address: tacosta@uady.mx.
authors: Juan Felipe
authors: JF
authors: de Torres-Acosta
authors: School of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná (PUCPR), São José dos Pinhais, Paraná 83010-500, Brazil. Electronic address: christinemary89pitty@hotmail.com.
authors: Maria Christine Rizzon
authors: MC
authors: Cintra
authors: Graduate Program in Animal Science, School of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná (PUCPR), São José dos Pinhais, Paraná 83010-500, Brazil. Electronic address: cristina.sotomaior@pucpr.br.
authors: Cristina Santos
authors: CS
authors: Sotomaior
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003625:Data Collection; D000067565:Farmers / Q000193:education*; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D006041:Goats; D010273:Parasitic Diseases, Animal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000977:Antiparasitic Agents
keywords: FAMACHA(©); Farmer's training; Learning process; Target selective treatment