Detection of Albendazole Resistant Gastrointestinal Nematodes in Village Cattle of South Eastern Mali

Abstract

To acquire information on gastro-intestinal nematodes and their control strategy in village cattle in southeast Mali, repeated faecal samplings and examination for faecal egg counts (FECs) on risk group cattle were conducted between November 2008 and November 2009. A strategic helminth control strategy was tested for efficacy in controlling helminths on risk group cattle randomly divided into an albendazole treated and untreated control. The latter was treated with 10 mg! Kg of albendazole sourced from Malian markets at the start and end of the rainy season. The former received a placebo. A faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) was conducted in November 2009 where all the albendazole treated calves were further split into two groups. One group was treated with 10 mg/kg of albendazole from Mali and the other with albendazole from Germany. The control group received a placebo. Faecal egg counts were compared on treatment day and day 14 post-treatment. Larval cultures were carried out on faecal samples from the albendazole treated and control groups to determine the helminth ecology. Young animals and zebu cattle were associated with higher FECs. Although breed and sex were not associated (P>0.05) with FECs, the time of study highly (P<O.OOOI) influenced FECs. The FECRT results showed that albendazole from markets had a faecal egg reduction of 55.6% while that from Germany had faecal egg count reduction (FECR) of 79.3%. The low FE CRT of albendazole from markets indicates gastro-intestinal nematode (GIN) resistance against albendazole. However, more studies need to be carried out to confirm this.