Within Breed Resistance to Naturally Occurring Gastrointestinal Nematodoses in Garole Sheep of West Bengal, India

Gastrointestinal (g.i.) nematodoses is the main constrain in sheep husbandry and control of g.i. nematodes is challenging due to anthelmintic resistance. Exploitation of host resistance could be an alternative approach to nematodes.

Within breed resistance of Garole sheep to g.i. nematodoses was determined in terms of monthly faecal egg count (FEC), Hb concentration and PCV% in 4- 6-months-old Garole sheep (n=80) in South 24 Parganas district from April, 2018 to March, 2019. On the basis of 6 months’ FEC data sheep were divided into resistant and susceptible group and Hb and PCV were measured in 15 animals from each group at monthly interval.

The prevalence of g.i. nematodes was 70 per cent and Haemonchus contortus was the predominant species. The overall FEC in Garole sheep was 360.67 in terms of eggs per gram (EPG) of faeces. Among the 80 Garole sheep 28 sheep showed persistent low FEC. The mean EPG of resistant group were 97.62 whereas, mean EPG of susceptible group were 502.31. In resistant sheep Hb and PCV did not vary whereas, in susceptible Hb and PCV reduced significantly (P<0.05) than the resistant sheep. Within breed resistance was present in Garole sheep and that could be utilized in selection of resistant breed.