Abstract

Haemonchus contortus, a gastrointestinal parasite costs the global small ruminant industry massive production loss and drug costs per annum. In Haemonchus contortus, one of the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) at codon 200 of the beta tubulin isotype-1 gene (TTC to TAC), renders this nematode resistant to benzimidazole based anthelmintics. Goats infected with such strains are resistant to benzimidazole based anthelmintics. We used this well established SNP as a diagnostic tool to detect and quantify resistant Haemonchus contortus in grazing goats. Spanish goats had 28% higher (P<0.05) amounts of both benzimidazole sensitive and resistant strains of Haemonchus contortus in stool than Myotonic goats. Bucks also had 25% higher (P<0.05) of both sensitive and resistant strains than Does. These data demonstrate that this SNP can be used as a diagnostic tool for detection and quantitation of Haemonchus contortus in the stool of grazing goats.

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