Abstract

AVILA PULGARIN, Leidy Steffany et al. Hemoparasite infection in goats and sheep at five municipalities in north and northeastern Antioquia (Colombia). Ces. Med. Vet. Zootec. [online]. 2013, vol.8, n.1, pp.11-21. ISSN 1900-9607.

Anaplasma ovis, Babesia ovis, and Trypanosoma vivax are the most frequent species of blood parasites in sheep and goats. A cross sectional study was conducted in six farms from five municipalities in the north and northeast of Antioquia between February through June 2011 to determine infection by blood parasites in goats and sheep. A total of 95 animals of different breeds and ages were evaluated. We used two direct parasitological methods to evaluate blood smears stained with Hemacolor and the modified Woo technique. The infection by Anaplasma sp. was 73.7%. No parasites of Babesia sp. and Trypanosoma sp. genus were detected. high infection frequency by Anaplasma sp. was detected, symptomatic animals were not observed and parasitemia levels were less than 1%. Infection levels of animals less than nine months of age reached 69.2%. An association between infection with Anaplasma sp. and the physiological status of the animals was also established, with 64.3% of the population positive to this hemoparasite corresponding to pregnant and lactating females. The lowest infection levels were found in farms where animals were treated with trichlorfon, a product used for ectoparasite control. We conclude there is a high frequency of Anaplasma sp. infecting sheep and goats in the studied farms.

Keywords : Anaplasma; Antioquia; goats; sheep.

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