Comparative evaluation of natural resistance of dera din panah and nachi goat breeds towards artificial infection with haemonchus contortus

Abstract

Gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) remain a major constraint associated with the profitable production of goats under grazing conditions. The present study was planned to determine the comparative susceptibility of Dera Din Panah (DDP) and Nachi breeds of goats towards artificial infection with Haemonchus (H.) contortus. To this end, a total of 24 goats of each breed were administered with third stage infective larvae of H. contortus through early and late infection protocols. The differences in faecal egg count (FEC), post necropsy worm count, rate of establishment of infection, packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), eosinophils, total serum protein (TSP) and serum albumin (SA) were compared to check breed susceptibility to worms. Both breeds reflected significant (P<0.05) differences in aforementioned parameters at different time intervals post infection. However, Nachi breed showed a compromised response towards artificially infection with H. contortus as compared to DDP breed. Overall, higher FEC, higher number of adult worm recovery along with significant reduction in PCV and Hb depicted that Nachi is comparatively more susceptible to H. contortus infection as compared to DDP. In conclusion, difference in response towards H. contortus infection may formulate the base of selective breeding of resistant goat breed (DDP) in the area.