title: Anthelmintic administration to small ruminants in emergency drought responses: assessing the impact in two locations of northern Kenya.
abstract: Internal parasites are a significant determinant of the productivity of ruminant species in the tropics. Provision of anthelmintics has become a predominant part of animal health interventions in emergency drought responses, aiming to maintain the food conversion efficiency of livestock when pasture is scarce. This study aimed to assess the owner-perceived impact of anthelmintic provision on the health and productivity of small ruminants in the drought-prone counties of Isiolo and Marsabit, northern Kenya. Participatory approaches were used to retrospectively measure differences in key indicators of livestock output before and after anthelmintic administration. Results showed that there was no perceived impact of anthelmintic administration during droughts on small ruminant health and productivity, but some benefit of anthelmintic administration during rainy season was perceived. The study also provided some evidence of potential differences in the epidemiology of internal parasites between the counties. These findings may be utilised to inform future livestock intervention programmes in drought-prone areas.
authors.affiliation: Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Herts, AL9 7TA, UK. c.n.okell@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Claire Natasha
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Okell
authors.affiliation: International Livestock Research Institute, Old Naivasha Road, PO Box 30709-00100, Nairobi, Kenya. J.Mariner@cgiar.org.|Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, 200 Westboro, North Grafton, MA, 01536, USA. J.Mariner@cgiar.org.
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mariner
authors.affiliation: Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), United Nations Office, United Nations Avenue, Gigiri, Nairobi, Kenya. Robert.Allport@fao.org.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Allport
authors.affiliation: VSF Germany, Piedmont Plaz, Ngong Road, Nairobi, Kenya. buono@vsfg.org.
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Buono
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, Veterinary Faculty, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya. hmutembei2002@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Henry M'Ikiugu
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Mutembei
authors.affiliation: Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Herts, AL9 7TA, UK. jrushton@rvc.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rushton
authors.affiliation: Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Herts, AL9 7TA, UK. kverheyen@rvc.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kristien
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Verheyen
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055864:Droughts; D004630:Emergencies / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D012418:Ruminants / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics
keywords: Anthelmintics; Drought; Impact assessment; Livestock; Pastoralism