Livestock Research Station Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Thiruvazhamkunnu, Palakkad-678 601, Kerala
1Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Manuthy, Thrissur-680 651, Kerala
An investigation was conducted to analyze the sensitivity and specificity of the FAMACHA© system in determining the anaemia due to haemonchosis in Attappady Black goats of Kerala. Two different criteria viz., FAMACHA© scores 3, 4 and 5 or 4 and 5 as anaemic and FAMACHA© scores 1 and 2or 1, 2 and 3 as non-anaemic were considered. Two standard values of PCV (≤19% and ≤ 22%) were used to confirm anaemia. The percentages of goats that would be correctly treated (inclusive of both true positives and true negatives) with haematocrit cutoff values of ≤19% and ≤ 22% when FAMACHA© categories 4 and 5 were 85.7% and 82.6%, respectively. Sensitivity was improved from 72.72% to 82.14% with the reciprocal decrease in specificity, when FAMACHA© category 3 was included. Kappa index was low for all the criteria tested. The study reveals that accounting the FAMACHA© categories 3, 4 and 5 as positives for anaemia impart optimum sensitivityofthis systemin Attappady Black goats.
Attappady Black goats, FAMACHA© score, Haemonchosis, Sensitivity, Specificity
