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The value of circulating eosinophil count as a selection criteria for resistance of sheep to trichostrongyle parasites.

The value of circulating eosinophil count as a selection criteria for resistance of sheep to trichostrongyle parasites.

Authors :
Woolaston RR
Manueli P
Eady SJ
Barger IA
Le Jambre LF
Banks DJ
Windon RG
Source :
International journal for parasitology [Int J Parasitol] 1996 Jan; Vol. 26 (1), pp. 123-6.
Publication Year :
1996

Abstract

In merino sheep bred for either increased or decreased resistance to Haemonchus contortus, faecal worm egg counts (FEC) were lower in the resistant line (6,831 vs 17,645 epg, P < 0.01), and circulating eosinophils (EOS) were higher, but not significantly so (3.40 x 10(4) ml(-1) vs 1.40 x 10(4) ml(-1), P = 0.1 1). Another flock was artificially infected with Trichostrongylus colubriformis and significant genetic variation was found in both FEC (heritability 0.40 +/- 0.11) and EOS (0.19 +/- 0.08). In a third flock comprising tropical sheep breeds, a natural challenge with T. colubriformis resulted in significant sire effects on FEC (heritability 0.20 +/- 0.10) but not EOS (heritability inestimable). We conclude that EOS offers no advantage over FEC as it selection criterion for resistance.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
0020-7519
Volume :
26
Issue :
1
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
International journal for parasitology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
9198588
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/0020-7519(95)00105-0