1. Samuel Glickman April 23rd 2014
Haemonchosis in Markhor Goats (Capra falconeri): Implications for Management in a Zoological Setting
Samuel Glickman
April 23rd 2014

2. Markhor Goats (Capra falconeri)
Common name: Screw-horned goat
Range includes India, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Pakistan
Primarily live in mountainous terrain (altitudes of meters)
Largest member of the goat family (weigh kgs, stand cm)
Sexually dimorphic

3. Unexpected 3 year old FI Markhor goat found dead on exhibit by keepers
From herd of 5 adults and two kids
Days prior to discovery she appeared lethargic with swelling on lower jaw and around eyes
Previous history of Eimeria and some strongyles: treated with levamisole and pyrantel
Submitted for necropsy

4. Differentials Degenerative Anomalous, Autoimmune Metabolic
Neoplasia, Nutritional
Infectious, Inflammatory
Toxin , Traumatic
Vascular

5. Necropsy
Diffuse submucosal edema with abundant intraluminal nematode parasites
Abdominal, thoracic and pericardial cavities: moderate serous effusions
Subcutis: Diffuse moderate edema
Diagnosis: Severe haemonchosis with hypoproteinemia and anemia

6. Barber pole worm (Haemonchus contortus)
Clinical signs include: anemia, weakness hypoproteinemia (bottle jaw), emaciation and sudden death
Parasite of goats, sheep, cervids, new world camelids
Female can produce approximately 5,000 eggs per day
Cycle of infection-pasture contamination-reinfection can make control difficult

7. Haemonchus contortus

8. Diagnosis Based on clinical signs
Gross lesions: presence of worms in the abomasum,
Fecal floatation – cannot distinguish from other strongyle eggs
Larval cultures ( days)
Fluorescein staining of egg shells

9. FAMACHA Selective treatment based on severity of affected animal
Combat resistance by treating only affected animals (remove low level selective pressure)
Combat resistance –
Quarantine new additions to the herd
Rotate anthelmintics
Multidrug protocols
Treat severely affected
Pasture management

10. Treatment Antihelmintics: Levamisole – 7.5 mg/kg
Fenbendazole – 5 mg/kg
Ivermectin mg/kg
Moxidectin – mg/kg
Supportive care
Continued monitoring of individual animals and the herd

11. Initial Treatment (Adults)
Caught each adult in chute
Examined MM, collected blood for PCV and TS
Individual fecal samples collected for quantitative egg analysis
Started on two day course of oral fenbendazole (10 mg/kg)
Adults recaptured 2 days later:
BoSe (0.06 mg/kg) SQ
Moxidectin (0.4 mg/kg) SQ
Collected blood for CBC/Chem

12. Treatment (kids) Manual restraint of kids on same day as adults
MM examined and blood collected for CBC/Chem
MM were paler than adult with regenerative anemia (22%, 16% anisocytosis, polychromasia)
Iron (10 mg/kg) IM
Discussion about transfusion
Major and minor crossmatch performed – no agglutination or hemolysis
Donor blood(mL) = 80 x BW(kg)x (Desired PCV-Recipient PCV)/ (PCV of transfused blood)

13. Transfusion Collected 1 unit of blood (500 mL) in CPDA-1 bag
Manual restraint – placed 16G jugular catheter
Administer blood via a filtration system
Serial weighing of bag to deliver desired amount of blood (1.06 g/mL blood)
Monitored respiratory and heart rate
Administered oral fenbendazole (10 mg/kg)
Recheck PCV two days later (38%, 27%) and SQ moxidectin (0.4 mg/kg)

15. Challenges Zoological settings – often mixed species enclosures
Limited space
Balance stress of capture and diagnosis/treatment of disease
Individual dosing and assessment

16. Control Program Removal of animals from exhibit area
Decontamination –removal of plant material and feces
Individual quantitative fecal egg counts
If egg count >500 eggs/gram – fenbendazole (10 mg/kg) for 2 days and one dose of moxidectin (0.4 mg/kg)
Once egg counts are reduced by 90% - return to exhibit

17. References
Getachew, T., P. Dorchies, and P. Jacquiet. “Trends and Challenges in the Effective and Sustainable Control of Haemonchus contortus Infection in Sheep. Review.” Parasite 14: 3-14.
Hoberg, E.P., A.A. Kocan, and L.G. Rickard. “Gastrointestinal Strongyles in Wild Ruminant” Faculty Publications from the Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology. Paper 623.
Kaplan, R.M. “Responding to the Emergence of Multiple-Dru g Resistant Haemonchus contortus: Smart Drenching and FAMACHA.” Proceedings of the Kentukcy Veterinary Medical Association 2005 Morehead Clinic Days Conference, June 4-5, 2005.

18. References
Nowak, R. “Walker’s Mammals of the World, 6th ed.” Baltimore: John Hopkins University Press, 1999.
Van Wyk, J.A. and G.F. Bath. “The FAMACHA system for managing haemonchosis in sheep and goats by clinically identifying individual animals for treatment.” Vet Res. 33:
Vokral, I, et al. “The Metabolism of flubendazole and the activities of selected biotransformation enzymes in Haemonchus contortus strains susceptible and resistant to anthelmintics.” Parasitology 139:
Young, K.E., M.S. James, J.M. Jensen, and T.M. Craig. “Evaluation of Anthelmintic Activity in Captive Wild Ruminants by Fecal Egg Reduction Tests and a Larval Development Assay. ” Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 31(3):

19. Thanks Dr. Kollias Dr. Cushing Dr. Abou-Madi Dr. Mary Smith
Staff of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo

20. Questions?