Two unorganized goat farms from dry semi-arid zone of Haryana were surveyed to assess the status of anthelmintics against gastrointestinal nematodes using faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT). A total of 120 goats, 60 each from Sighwal village, Jind (SVJ) and Andhli village, Kaithal (AVK) with at least 150 egg per gram (EPG) of faeces were selected. Goats were divided into four groups of 15 animals each in SVJ (G1, G2, G3 and G4) and AVK (B1, B2, B3 and B4) farms. Group G1 and B1 were treated with fenbendazole (@ 10 mg/kg b.wt. orally), group G2 and B2 were treated with closantel (@ 20 mg/kg b.wt. orally), group G3 and B3 were treated with ivermectin (0.4 mg/kg, subcutaneous injection) and group G4 and B4 served as untreated control. Faecal samples were collected on zero and 14th day after treatment from all groups and egg counts were done by Modified Mc Master technique. Per cent reduction in faecal egg counts by fenbendazole, closantel and ivermectin in SVJ was 63.01, 86.01 and 72.60 and in AVK was 57.31, 80.48 and 78.04, respectively. The post-treatment coproculture of both SVJ and AVK farms showed only Haemonchus contortus larvae. Thus, the present study indicates the presence of resistance against fenbendazole, closantel and ivermectin i.e. multiple anthelmintic resistance in unorganized goat farms from semi-arid zone of Haryana.

Highlights

• Fenbendazole, closantel and ivermectin are commonly used anthelmintics.
• All the gastrointestinal parasite of goat farms showed multiple anthelmintic resistance.