Goat parasite incidence and host resilience in North Carolina during the fall season

This study aims to address concerns regarding the incidence of goat parasites and host resilience during the fall season in North Carolina. Due to an increase in anthelmintic resistance and climate change, producers are plagued with increasing difficulties stabilizing herd health, especially around the time of parturition. During the periparturient period, goats succumb to haemonchosis, due to the combined assault of larvae emerging from hypobiosis and the immunosuppression of late pregnancy. Twenty periparturient Boer and BoerX goats (n = 20), managed on pasture, were randomly selected from 4 farms in North Carolina. Body weight, BCS, and FAMACHA score were evaluated on the farm. Blood and fecal samples were collected once a week for 5 wk pre- and postpartum. Strongyle eggs per gram (EPG) and Coccidia oocyte counts were conducted using the modified McMaster technique. The packed cell volume was determined from collected blood samples, and plasma was separated and stored at −20°C. Total plasma protein concentration was determined using the bicinchoninic acid assay. The 5-wk averages were computed. The prepartum Strongyle and Coccidia oocyte EPG were 891.3 and 232.9, respectively. The postpartum Strongyle and Coccidia oocyte EPG were 983.5 and 342.5, respectively. The BW was 113.5 and 90.7 kg pre- and postpartum, respectively. The BCS pre- and postpartum was 3.2 and 2.4, respectively. The FAMACHA score pre- and postpartum was 3.7 and 4.2, respectively. The packed cell volume was 22.8 and 18.6% pre- and postpartum, respectively. The average total plasma protein concentration pre- and postpartum was 77.8 and 75.9 mg/mL, respectively. Gastrointestinal nematodes and Coccidia were present in all farms tested. The observed incidence of parasites and associated anemia have implications for a necessity of new strategies for parasite control and herd management.