INDEX
ABSTRACT ... 5
PREFACE ... 6
CHAPTER I. ZERI AND ZERASCA SHEEP ... 7
SECTION 1.THE TERRITORY OF ZERI ... 7
SECTION 2. A NATIVE SHEEP BREED –ZERASCA ... 9
SECTION 3.SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF THE ZERASCA BREED ... 12
CHAPTER II. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY ... 14
SECTION 1.HELMINTHOLOGY ... 14
SECTION 2.MOST COMMON HELMINTHES IN SHEEP ... 15
2. a) Super family TRICHOSTRONGYLOIDEA 2. b) Super family STRONGYLOIDEA SECTION 3.ECONOMIC LOSSES DUE TO GI PARASITISM ... 17
SECTION 4.PARASITE- ENVIRONMENT RELATIONSHIP ... 18
SECTION 5.ANTHELMINTIC TREATMENT SHEMES ... 20
5.a) Strategic treatment schemes 5. b) Suppressive treatment schemes 5. c) Tactical treatment schemes 5. d) Selective treatment schemes) ... 21
SECTION 6.ANTHELMINTIC DRUGS ... 22
6. a) Negative aspects associated with anthelmintic treatments ... 23
SECTION 7. ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF PARASITE CONTROL ... 28
7. a) Grazing management 7. b) Biological control 29 7. c) Nutritional supplementation 32 7. d) Vaccination 7. e) Genetic selection 35 7 f) Non-conventional anthelmintics ... 37
CHAPTER III. VETERINARY IMMUNOLOGY ... 40
SECTION 1. IMMUNITY AND PATHOLOGY 40
SECTION 2.IMMUNITY TO HELMINTHS 43
SECTION 3.THE COST OF IMMUNITY TOWARDS GIN ... 46
CHAPTER IV. ANIMAL WELFARE ... 48
SECTION 1.DEFINITION SECTION 2.SHEEP WELFARE SECTION 3.WHY ANIMAL WELFARE IS MEASURED 50
SECTION 4. EU AND NATIONAL REGULATION 52
SECTION 5.EVALUATION OF ANIMAL WELFARE ... 54
5. a) Haematological parameters 5. b) Metabolic profile 5. c) Immunological parameters ... 68
SECTION 6. HOMEOPATHY, IMMUNITY AND WELFARE ... 70
CHAPTER V. MATERIALS AND METHODS ... 72
SECTION 1. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN ... 72 1. a) Animals and study area
1. b) Scientific protocol
1. c) Chemical drug treatment 73
1. d) Homeopathic remedy 74
1. e) Parasitological techniques 1. f)Procedures used for blood samples 76
1. g) Zootechnical parameters 78
1. h) Statistical analysis 80
CHAPTER VI: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 81
SECTION 1.PARASITOLOGICAL RESULTS 1. a) Gastrointestinal strongyles 1. b) Coccidia oocysts 85
SECTION 2.BLOOD SAMPLES 87
2. a) Complete blood count 2. b) Blood Chemical results 91
2. c) Immunological results 94
2. d) Zootechnical results 97
CHAPTER VII: CONCLUSION ... 100
BIBLIOGRAPHY ... 102
