By Ndumiso Tshuma
Internal parasites have long posed a silent threat to the health and productivity of livestock worldwide. Agriculture experts are shedding light on how these parasites affect animals and how farmers can combat them.
Nqobani Manyabi, an animal specialist at EL Ganado Consultancy, explained the complex interactions between parasites and their hosts.
He noted that internal parasites such as lungworms, liver flukes, and stomach worms can cause a range of debilitating diseases with severe consequences for livestock.
โLungworms irritate the bronchioles inside the lungs, triggering a reaction involving mucus and white blood cells as the body attempts to eliminate the parasites. This irritation and discomfort cause the animal to cough,โ said Manyabi.
He further explained that stomach worms, on the other hand, are aggressive bloodsuckers that destroy the stomach lining to access the bloodstream, leading to abdominal pain, diarrhoea, anaemia, and weight loss.
โThe destruction of the stomach lining prevents the animal from digesting food properly, resulting in severe health complications,โ Manyabi added.
Liver flukes, another type of internal parasite, burrow tunnels in the liver, causing scarring and organ damage. Manyabi warned that the accumulation of toxins in the bloodstream can harm other organs, including the brain.
โThe build-up of these toxins in the blood can severely damage other organs, including the brain. A common sign of this is depression or stupor,โ he said.
To combat internal parasites, Manyabi said there is a need to ensure effective farm management and preventive measures are in place, including proper feed management, hygiene, and monitoring new livestock.
โFeed should never be placed directly on the ground, and water must always be clean and free of fecal matter. Pens and pastures should be kept clean at all times. Additionally, new animals should be isolated for 30 days and dewormed before being introduced to the rest of the flock,โ he advised.
Manyabi also stressed the need for selective breeding to enhance resistance to worms and recommended strategic deworming practices.
โFarmers should breed animals that are naturally more resistant to worms. It is also crucial to avoid over-medicating livestock and to carry out targeted treatment only when necessary,โ he said.
He cautioned that excessive deworming can lead to parasite resistance, making treatment less effective over time.
โTreating animals with low parasite burdens unnecessarily can increase the chances of parasites developing resistance. Having a population of susceptible worms in the environment helps control resistant parasites, as they mate with non-resistant ones,โ explained Manyabi.
