Worms and welfare: Behavioural and physiological changes associated with gastrointestinal nematode parasitism in lambs.

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dc.citation.volume324
dc.contributor.authorHempstead MN
dc.contributor.authorWaghorn TS
dc.contributor.authorGibson MJ
dc.contributor.authorSauermann CW
dc.contributor.authorRoss AB
dc.contributor.authorCave VM
dc.contributor.authorSutherland MA
dc.contributor.authorMarquetoux N
dc.contributor.authorHannaford R
dc.contributor.authorCorner-Thomas RA
dc.contributor.authorSutherland IA
dc.coverage.spatialNetherlands
dc.date.accessioned2024-10-02T20:29:09Z
dc.date.available2024-10-02T20:29:09Z
dc.date.issued2023-10-27
dc.description.abstractParasitism with gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) is a worldwide issue impacting negatively on animal production, health, and welfare. Therefore, early diagnostic signs of parasitism are required to allow for timely interventions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the behavioural and physiological changes in lambs associated with GIN infection. We used 30, 8-month-old Romney-cross wethers, that were administered anthelmintics until faecal egg counts (FEC) were zero and housed in an indoor facility. The study lasted 9 weeks, which comprised a 3-week pre-treatment, and a 6-week treatment phase. Lambs were randomly assigned to one of two treatments (n = 15/treatment) trickle-dosed with: 1) 1500 infective third stage larvae (L3) three days/week for 6 weeks (27,000 total L3; challenged), or 2) water 3 days/week for 6 weeks (control). Within each pen there were 5 pairs of lambs (balanced for liveweight), with each pair comprising a challenged and control lamb. Blood, faecal, and saliva samples were collected 1 week pre-treatment and weekly for 6 weeks of treatment. Behaviour was observed (e.g., feeding, lying, standing) from video-camera recordings using scan sampling every 5 min for 8 h, 1 day pre-treatment and on the day immediately prior to physiological sampling across the 6-week treatment phase (7 days in total). Accelerometers were attached to each lamb to continuously monitor behaviour from 3 weeks pre-treatment and for the remainder of the study. Liveweight, body condition, faecal soiling and faecal consistency scoring were performed weekly as was lipidomic analysis of plasma samples. From week 2 of treatment, challenged lambs spent less time feeding and more time lying than control lambs until week 5 of treatment (P ≤ 0.01). At week 3 of treatment, elevated lipids (mainly triglycerides and phospholipids), loose faeces and faecal soiling around the anus were observed in challenged lambs compared with controls (P ≤ 0.05). From week 4 of treatment, FEC were elevated in the challenged compared to control lambs (P ≤ 0.05). There was also lower liveweight gain at 4 and 5 weeks of treatment in the challenged lambs compared with control lambs (P ≤ 0.05). These results show a clear timeline of changes in behaviour (e.g., feeding and lying), lipids such as triglycerides, and digestive function (e.g., faecal soiling) suggestive of GIN subclinical disease, which show promise for use in future studies on early identification of subclinical GIN parasitism in lambs.
dc.description.confidentialfalse
dc.edition.editionDecember 2023
dc.format.pagination110056-
dc.identifier.author-urlhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37897851
dc.identifier.citationHempstead MN, Waghorn TS, Gibson MJ, Sauermann CW, Ross AB, Cave VM, Sutherland MA, Marquetoux N, Hannaford R, Corner-Thomas RA, Sutherland IA. (2023). Worms and welfare: Behavioural and physiological changes associated with gastrointestinal nematode parasitism in lambs.. Vet Parasitol. 324. (pp. 110056-).
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.vetpar.2023.110056
dc.identifier.eissn1873-2550
dc.identifier.elements-typejournal-article
dc.identifier.issn0304-4017
dc.identifier.number110056
dc.identifier.piiS0304-4017(23)00187-5
dc.identifier.urihttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/71576
dc.languageeng
dc.publisherElsevier B.V.
dc.publisher.urihttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304401723001875
dc.relation.isPartOfVet Parasitol
dc.rights(c) The author/sen
dc.rights.licenseCC BY-NC-ND 4.0en
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/en
dc.subjectAnimal behaviour
dc.subjectAnimal welfare
dc.subjectAnthelmintic resistance
dc.subjectHelminth
dc.subjectSheep
dc.subjectSickness
dc.subjectWorm
dc.subjectAnimals
dc.subjectSheep
dc.subjectMale
dc.subjectFecal Incontinence
dc.subjectNematoda
dc.subjectSheep, Domestic
dc.subjectNematode Infections
dc.subjectFeces
dc.subjectGastrointestinal Diseases
dc.subjectTriglycerides
dc.subjectLipids
dc.subjectSheep Diseases
dc.subjectParasite Egg Count
dc.titleWorms and welfare: Behavioural and physiological changes associated with gastrointestinal nematode parasitism in lambs.
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.elements-id484204
pubs.organisational-groupOther
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