Characterization of phenotypic parameters associated with gastrointestinal parasitism in Djallonké goats in the south-western region of Burkina Faso
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64707/revstsna.v45i01.2291Keywords:
Djallonké goats, Gastrointestinal nematodes, Parasite resistance, Phenotypic parameters, FAMACHA, Burkina FasoAbstract
Livestock farming accounts for around 40% of the value of global agricultural
production and is a vital source of food as well as a major pillar of agricultural
systems. In Burkina Faso, where production systems are predominantly pastoral and
traditional, animals are constantly exposed to gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs),
which cause significant production losses and even mortality.
In this context, the present study aims to assess the relative resistance of Djallonké
goats to gastrointestinal parasitic infections in the south-western region of Burkina
Faso. A total of 344 Djallonké goats were sampled in four villages in the rural
commune of Bouroum-Bouroum. Following anthelmintic treatment with levamisole,
the animals were returned to infested pastures. The parameters studied included eggs
per gram of faeces (EPG), the FAMACHA score and haematocrit, measured 28 and
35 days after treatment.
The results show a slight increase in average body weight, from 12.80 to 13.10 kg
between 28 and 35 days. The average EPG increased from 645 to 973 over the same
period, with no significant difference due to high individual variability. However,
the effect of sex on EPG is significant (P < 0.01), with higher values in females.
These results suggest that the Djallonké goat has the ability to maintain its weight
despite parasitic pressure. This variability in response indicates promising potential
for genetic selection and the dissemination of this breed in rural areas with limited
access to veterinary care
References
Aboshady, H. M., Stear, M. J., Johansson, A., Jonas, E., & Bambou, J.
C. (2020). Immunoglobulins as Biomarkers for Gastrointestinal
Nematodes Resistance in Small Ruminants: A systematic review.
Scientific Reports, 10, 7765. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-
-x
Agridape. (2010). Livestock and livelihoods in developing countries.
Vol. 45, n° 1– janvier – juin 2026 – Sciences Naturelles et Appliquées - Publié le 30 juin 2026 1015
Agridape Magazine, 26(2), 4–7.
Bambou, J.-C., Ceï, W., Arquet, R., Calif, V., Bocage, B., Mandonnet,
N. et Alexandre, G. (2021) Mixed grazing and dietary supplementation
improve the response to gastrointestinal nematode parasitism and
production performances of goats. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8, p.
doi :10.3389/fvets.2021.628686.
Bambou, J.-C., Larcher, T., Ceï, W., Dumoulin, P.J. et Mandonnet, N.
(2013) Effet de l'infection expérimentale par Haemonchus contortus sur
les réponses parasitologiques et cellulaires locales chez de jeunes
chèvres créoles résistantes et sensibles. BioMed Research International,
, p. 902759. doi:10.1155/2013/902759.
Bautista-Garfias, C. R., Castañeda-Ramírez, G. S., Estrada-Reyes, Z.
M., Soares, F. E. F., Ventura-Cordero, J., González-Pech, P. G., Morgan,
E. R., López-Guillén, G., Soria-Ruiz, J., & Aguilar-Marcelino, L.
(2022). A Review of the Impact of Climate Change on the
Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Nematode Infections in Small
Ruminants and Wildlife in Tropical Conditions. Pathogens, 11(2), 148.
https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11020148
Burke, J.M. et Miller, J.E. (2002) Relative resistance of Dorper
crossbred ewes to gastrointestinal nematode infection compared with
St. Croix and Katahdin ewes in the southeastern United States.
Veterinary Parasitology, 109(3–4), pp. 265–275. doi:10.1016/S0304-
(02)00272-8.
Dahourou, L. D., Konaté, A., Tapsoba, A. S. R., Traoré, A., Logan, L.
L., Tembely, S., Dicko, A., Sanou, M., Tamboura, H. H., Bayala, B., &
Salissou, I. (2021). Epidemiology and spatio-temporal distribution of
gastrointestinal parasites infection and accuracy of FAMACHA test in
sheep in traditional farming systems in Burkina Faso. Tropical Animal
Health and Production, 53, 392.
Gatitu, L., Kasudi, M. R., Githigia, S., Moodley, A., & Muloi, D. M.
(2025). Anthelmintic resistance in livestock in Africa: review of the
current status. BMC Veterinary Research, 21, 615.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-025-05077-0
Getachew, T., Alemu, B., Sölkner, J., Gizaw, S., Haile, A., Gosheme, S.
et Notter, D.R. (2015) Relative resistance of Menz and Washera sheep
breeds to artificial infection with Haemonchus contortus in Highlands
of Ethiopia. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 47, pp. 961–968.
Vol. 45, n° 1– janvier - juin 2026 – Sciences Naturelles et Appliquées - Publié le 30 juin 2026
Hayward, A. D. (2022). Genetic parameters for resistance to
gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep: A meta-analysis. International
Journal for Parasitology, 52(13–14), 843–853.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2022.09.004
Hoste H, Meza-OCampos G, Marchand S, Sotiraki S, Sarasti K,
Blomstrand BM, Williams AR, Thamsborg SM, Athanasiadou S,
Enemark HL, Torres Acosta JF, Mancilla-Montelongo G, Castro CS,
Costa-Junior LM, Louvandini H, Sousa DM, Salminen JP, Karonen M,
Engstrom M, Charlier J, Niderkorn V, Morgan ER. (2022). Use of agro-
industrial by-products containing tannins for the integrated control of
gastrointestinal nematodes in ruminants. Parasite, 29(10), pp. 1-14.
Hoste, H., Ravinet, N., Chartier, C. Marie-Magdeleine, C., Bambou, J.
C., Bonneau, M., Mandonnet, N., Jacquiet, P et Desquesnes, M. (2022)
Réduction d’usage et alternatives aux antiparasitaires en élevage des
ruminants. INRAE Productions Animales, 35(4), pp. 327–344.
doi:10.20870/productions-animales.2022.35.4.7333.
Ministère des Ressources Animales (MRA) (2011) Statistiques du
secteur de l’élevage au Burkina Faso. Ouagadougou, 86 p
Notter, D.R., Andrew, S.A. et Zajac, A.M. (2003) Responses of hair and
wool sheep to a single fixed dose of infective larvae of Haemonchus
contortus. Small Ruminant Research, 47, pp. 221–225.
Paul, B.T., Jesse, F.F.A., Chung, E.L.T., Che-Amat, A. et Mohd-Lila,
M.A. (2021) Prevalence and risk factors of Haemotropic Mycoplasma
ovis infection in selected smallholder sheep and goat flocks in
Malaysia. Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 51, pp. 259–266.
doi:10.14456/tjvm.2021.33.
Soudre, A., Grema, M., Notter, R. D., Tapsoba, A. S., Traore, A.,
Kabore, A., Alvarez I., Ivan Fernandez I., Sanou M., Lompo D., Sanou
T., Samshuddin M., Periasamy K., Tamboura H.H., et Goyache, F.
(2018). Resistance of Djallonké sheep to Haemonchus contortus under
artificial challenge. International Journal of Biological and Chemical
Sciences, 12(3), pp.1274-1285.
Traoré, A., Notter, D.R., Soudre, A., Kaboré, A., Álvarez, I., Fernández,
I., Sanou, M., Shamshuddin, M., Periasamy, K., Tamboura, H.H., et
Goyache, F. (2015) Resistance to gastrointestinal parasite infection in
Djallonké sheep. Animal, 11(8), pp. 1354–1362.
doi:10.1017/S1751731116002640.
Vol. 45, n° 1– janvier – juin 2026 – Sciences Naturelles et Appliquées - Publié le 30 juin 2026 1017
Van Wyk, J.A. et Bath, G.F. (2002) The FAMACHA© system for
managing Haemonchosis in sheep and goats by clinically identifying
individual animals for treatment. Veterinary Research, 33, pp. 509–529.
Vineer, H.R., Morgan, E.R., Hertzberg, H., Bartley, D.J., Bosco, A.,
Charlier, J., Chartier, C., Claerebout, E., de Waal, T., Hendrickx, G.,
Hinney, B., Höglund, J., Ježek, J., Kašný, M., Keane, O.M., Martínez-
Valladares, M., Mateus, T.L., McIntyre, J., Mickiewicz, M., Munoz,
A.M., Phythian, C.J., Ploeger, H.W., Rataj, A.V., Skuce, P.J., Simin, S.,
Sotiraki, S., Spinu, M., Stuen, S., Thamsborg, S.M., Vadlejch, J.,
Varady, M., von Samson-Himmelstjerna, G. et Rinaldi, L. (2020).
Increasing importance of anthelmintic resistance in European livestock:
creation and meta-analysis of an open database. Parasite. 27(69), pp. 1–
doi: 10.1051/parasite/2020062.
Zabré G, Kaboré A, Bayala B, Katiki LM, Costa-Ju nior LM, Tamboura
HH, Belem AMG, Abdalla AL, Niderkorn V, Hoste H, Louvandini H.
(2017). Comparison of the in vitro anthelmintic effects of Acacia
nilotica and Acacia raddiana. Parasite, 24 (44), pp. 1–11
Zampaligre, N., Kagambega, W. F., Sanou, L., Sawadogo, L. (2019).
Impact of grazing intensity on floristic diversity and woody structure in
grazing area near Kaboré Tambi National Park (Burkina Faso). Journal
of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, 8(2), pp. 106-115.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
