Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to (i) determine the prevalence of Haemonchus contortus infections in dairy sheep and goats in continental and insular Greece, based on an abattoir survey, and (ii) to evaluate potential host-related risk factors including the age and sex, as well as the altitude, the management system, the co-existence of goats and sheep, the season, and the anthelmintic treatment, on the occurrence of haemonchosis. METHODS: In total, 1004 abomasa of small ruminants were examined to evaluate the prevalence of Haemonchus spp. Moreover, a structured questionnaire was used to obtain relevant information regarding animal and farm characteristics. Haemonchus-like helminths were collected from the abomasa and used for the molecular species identification; a fragment of 321 base pairs of the internal transcribed spacer 2 sequence of nuclear DNA was amplified. RESULTS: The prevalence of mono-species H. contortus infection of small ruminants was 37.2%. For sheep, a multivariable analysis revealed the anthelmintic treatment (treatment with pro/benzimidazoles), the age (lambs under 2 months old), and the management system (intensive management system) as significant factors for preventing H. contortus infection. Likewise, the management system (intensive management system), the anthelmintic treatment (treatment with macrocyclic lactones and their combination with pro/benzimidazoles), the altitude of the farms (farms located over 300 m above sea level), and the season (spring and summer) were significant risk factors in preventing H. contortus infection in goats. CONCLUSION: These findings emphasize the urgent need for targeted management practices and region-specific veterinary protocols to effectively reduce parasitic burdens.