title: Plants of the Cerrado naturally selected by grazing sheep may have potential for inhibiting development of Haemonchus contortus larva.
abstract: Plant species naturally selected by sheep grazing in the Cerrado region of Brazil were assessed in vitro for activity against Haemonchus contortus. One year of observations showed the plant families in the region exhibiting greatest richness to be Fabaceae, Rubiaceae, Malpighiaceae, Bignoniaceae, Myrtaceae, and Annonaceae. Nine species commonly selected by grazing sheep showed variation in the selectivity index with respect to the dry and rainy seasons. Coproculture was conducted in five replicates of 11 treatments: ivermectin, distilled water, or dehydrated leaves of nine selected plant species administered at 333.3 mg g(-1) fecal culture. The dried powder of Piptadenia viridiflora and Ximenia americana leaves significantly reduced the number of infective larvae compared to the distilled water control. These species showed efficacy of over 85 % despite low concentrations of proanthocyanidin. High-performance liquid chromatography analyses of extracts of these plants showed major peaks of UV spectra characteristic of flavonoids. Those naturally selected plant species with high antihelminthic efficacy show promise for use in diet as an alternative control of H. contortus in sheep.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Franciellen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Morais-Costa
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Produção Animal, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Universitária, 1000, Bairro Universitário, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, CEP 39401-790, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Cláudia Maia
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Produção Animal, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Universitária, 1000, Bairro Universitário, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, CEP 39401-790, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriela Almeida
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Bastos
authors.affiliation: Mestrado Profissionalizante em Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Yule Roberta Ferreira
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Produção Animal, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Universitária, 1000, Bairro Universitário, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, CEP 39401-790, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana Castro
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Geraseev
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernão Castro
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dos Santos Lima
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Produção Animal, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Universitária, 1000, Bairro Universitário, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, CEP 39401-790, Brazil. duartevet@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Eduardo Robson
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Duarte
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001938:Brazil; D006188:Haemonchiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D006189:Haemonchus / Q000187:drug effects*; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010063:Ovum / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D018515:Plant Leaves; D006109:Poaceae; D012621:Seasons; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics
keywords: Grazing sheep; Haemonchus contortus; Phytochemical composition; Savanna/Cerrado; Semiarid; Vegetation structure