Anthelmintic resistance in livestock in Africa: review of the current status
Background: Livestock across the globe are frequently infected with multiple gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) species, and the use of anthelmintics remains a cornerstone of their control. However, anthelmintic resistance (AHR) poses a growing threat to sustainable livestock production, resulting in r...
| Autores principales: | , , , , |
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| Formato: | Journal Article |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
| Publicado: |
BioMed Central
2025
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| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/177212 |
| _version_ | 1855531468290260992 |
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| author | Gatitu, Lucy Kasudi, Mitchelle R. Githigia, S. Moodley, Arshnee Muloi, Dishon M. |
| author_browse | Gatitu, Lucy Githigia, S. Kasudi, Mitchelle R. Moodley, Arshnee Muloi, Dishon M. |
| author_facet | Gatitu, Lucy Kasudi, Mitchelle R. Githigia, S. Moodley, Arshnee Muloi, Dishon M. |
| author_sort | Gatitu, Lucy |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Background: Livestock across the globe are frequently infected with multiple gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) species, and the use of anthelmintics remains a cornerstone of their control. However, anthelmintic resistance (AHR) poses a growing threat to sustainable livestock production, resulting in reduced productivity and compromised animal health and welfare. Reports of resistance in various helminth species against multiple anthelmintic classes exist in African livestock; however, studies summarising the extent and burden of this resistance are limited, and systematic monitoring or surveillance efforts are largely absent across the continent.
Methods: We conducted a comprehensive scoping review to evaluate the current status of AHR in African livestock.
Results: Our systematic search yielded 357 original studies, 28 met the eligibility criteria, covering nine countries and spanning from 1996 to 2024. All studies involved cattle and/or small ruminants, focusing primarily on two anthelmintic classes—benzimidazoles and macrocyclic lactones—and two gastrointestinal nematode genera: <i>Haemonchus</i> and <i>Trichostrongylus</i>. Resistance was reported across most of the studies, although reported prevalence rates were highly heterogeneous, varying considerably with anthelmintic class, livestock species, and geographic location. We observed variability in study methodologies, including differences in faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) design, sampling intervals, dosage regimens, and reporting quality, which potentially limits comparability across countries and restricts epidemiological insight.
Conclusions: These findings highlight the urgent need to more accurately quantify the burden of AHR and to establish coordinated surveillance systems across Africa. Equally important is the development of sustainable parasite control strategies and the promotion of responsible anthelmintic use to preserve the efficacy of existing drugs. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace177212 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | BioMed Central |
| publisherStr | BioMed Central |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1772122025-11-12T04:28:51Z Anthelmintic resistance in livestock in Africa: review of the current status Gatitu, Lucy Kasudi, Mitchelle R. Githigia, S. Moodley, Arshnee Muloi, Dishon M. disease control drugs livestock Background: Livestock across the globe are frequently infected with multiple gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) species, and the use of anthelmintics remains a cornerstone of their control. However, anthelmintic resistance (AHR) poses a growing threat to sustainable livestock production, resulting in reduced productivity and compromised animal health and welfare. Reports of resistance in various helminth species against multiple anthelmintic classes exist in African livestock; however, studies summarising the extent and burden of this resistance are limited, and systematic monitoring or surveillance efforts are largely absent across the continent. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive scoping review to evaluate the current status of AHR in African livestock. Results: Our systematic search yielded 357 original studies, 28 met the eligibility criteria, covering nine countries and spanning from 1996 to 2024. All studies involved cattle and/or small ruminants, focusing primarily on two anthelmintic classes—benzimidazoles and macrocyclic lactones—and two gastrointestinal nematode genera: <i>Haemonchus</i> and <i>Trichostrongylus</i>. Resistance was reported across most of the studies, although reported prevalence rates were highly heterogeneous, varying considerably with anthelmintic class, livestock species, and geographic location. We observed variability in study methodologies, including differences in faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) design, sampling intervals, dosage regimens, and reporting quality, which potentially limits comparability across countries and restricts epidemiological insight. Conclusions: These findings highlight the urgent need to more accurately quantify the burden of AHR and to establish coordinated surveillance systems across Africa. Equally important is the development of sustainable parasite control strategies and the promotion of responsible anthelmintic use to preserve the efficacy of existing drugs. 2025-10-17 2025-10-20T04:50:32Z 2025-10-20T04:50:32Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/177212 en Open Access application/pdf BioMed Central Gatitu, L., Kasudi, M.R., Githigia, S., Moodley, A. and Muloi, D. 2025. Anthelmintic resistance in livestock in Africa: review of the current status. BMC Veterinary Research 21: 615. |
| spellingShingle | disease control drugs livestock Gatitu, Lucy Kasudi, Mitchelle R. Githigia, S. Moodley, Arshnee Muloi, Dishon M. Anthelmintic resistance in livestock in Africa: review of the current status |
| title | Anthelmintic resistance in livestock in Africa: review of the current status |
| title_full | Anthelmintic resistance in livestock in Africa: review of the current status |
| title_fullStr | Anthelmintic resistance in livestock in Africa: review of the current status |
| title_full_unstemmed | Anthelmintic resistance in livestock in Africa: review of the current status |
| title_short | Anthelmintic resistance in livestock in Africa: review of the current status |
| title_sort | anthelmintic resistance in livestock in africa review of the current status |
| topic | disease control drugs livestock |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/177212 |
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