ANTHELMINTIC STEWARDSHIP: EXPLORING THE IMMUNE STRENGTH AT THE LEVEL OF HOST-PARASITE INTERACTION

This project is housed in the Department of Veterinary Pathology, Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Nairobi, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. The project is sponsored by Diamond V Mills, United States. The project will test the prophylactic effects of an immune buster supplement supplied by the sponsor against parasitic infestations in sheep. Sheep are more susceptible to the adverse effects of parasitism than other livestock and clinical disease is common. Breeding ewes are particularly highly susceptible to infection and to the pathogenic effects of parasites during pregnancy and lactation as they temporary loose their acquired immunity. Young lambs are also highly susceptible due to poor development of acquired immunity. Their susceptibility is highest just post-weaning as a result of weaning stress. The test product is known to have useful effects in stress management at all production cycles thus animals perform to their genetic potential. This study therefore proposes to investigate the resistance and resilience to gastrointestinal parasitism achieved through feeding the immune buster to breeding ewes and lambs in Kenya.