The Unique Resistance and Resilience of the Nigerian West African Dwarf Goat to Gastrointestinal Nematode Infections

Overview

Journal Parasit Vectors

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialties Parasitology
Tropical Medicine

Date 2011 Feb 5

PMID 21291550

Citations 16

Authors

Samuel N Chiejina

Jerzy M Behnke

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: West African Dwarf (WAD) goats serve an important role in the rural village economy of West Africa, especially among small-holder livestock owners. They have been shown to be trypanotolerant and to resist infections with Haemonchus contortus more effectively than any other known breed of goat.

Methods: In this paper we review what is known about the origins of this goat breed, explain its economic importance in rural West Africa and review the current status of our knowledge about its ability to resist parasitic infections.

Conclusions: We suggest that its unique capacity to show both trypanotolerance and resistance to gastrointestinal (GI) nematode infections is immunologically based and genetically endowed, and that knowledge of the underlying genes could be exploited to improve the capacity of more productive wool and milk producing, but GI nematode susceptible, breeds of goats to resist infection, without recourse to anthelmintics. Either conventional breeding allowing introgression of resistance alleles into susceptible breeds, or transgenesis could be exploited for this purpose. Appropriate legal protection of the resistance alleles of WAD goats might provide a much needed source of revenue for the countries in West Africa where the WAD goats exist and where currently living standards among rural populations are among the lowest in the world.

Citing Articles

Genomic analysis of Staphylococcus aureus from the West African Dwarf (WAD) goat in Nigeria.

Shittu A, Taiwo F, Frobose N, Schwartbeck B, Niemann S, Mellmann A Antimicrob Resist Infect Control. 2021; 10(1):122.

PMID: 34412702 PMC: 8375196. DOI: 10.1186/s13756-021-00987-8.

Characteristics and trait preferences of West African Dwarf goat keepers in Ghana.

Ofori S, Hagan J Trop Anim Health Prod. 2021; 53(3):356.

PMID: 34106330 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-021-02781-5.

Frequency and diversity of trypanosomes in sheep and goats from Mongo County in South Gabon, Central Africa.

Maganga G, Boundenga L, Ologui-Minkue-Edzo E, Bohou Kombila L, Mebaley T, Kumulungui B Vet World. 2020; 13(11):2502-2507.

PMID: 33363347 PMC: 7750216. DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2020.2502-2507.

Gastrointestinal nematode infections in goats: differences between strongyle faecal egg counts and specific antibody responses to Teladorsagia circumcincta in Nera di Verzasca and Alpine goats.

Zanzani S, Gazzonis A, Alberti E, Neilly T, Villa L, Manfredi M Parasitol Res. 2020; 119(8):2539-2548.

PMID: 32562068 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06767-4.

First detection of Eimeria species in Myanmar domestic goats with both microscopic and molecular methods.

Bawm S, Win T, Win S, Htun L, Nakao R, Katakura K Parasite. 2020; 27:38.

PMID: 32425155 PMC: 7236540. DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2020037.

References

Hunt P, Knox M, Le Jambre L, McNally J, Anderson L . Genetic and phenotypic differences between isolates of Haemonchus contortus in Australia. Int J Parasitol. 2007; 38(8-9):885-900. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2007.11.001. View

Huntley J, Patterson M, Mackellar A, Jackson F, Stevenson L, Coop R . A comparison of the mast cell and eosinophil responses of sheep and goats to gastrointestinal nematode infections. Res Vet Sci. 1995; 58(1):5-10. DOI: 10.1016/0034-5288(95)90080-2. View

Wrigley J, McArthur M, McKenna P, Mariadass B . Resistance to a triple combination of broad-spectrum anthelmintics in naturally-acquired Ostertagia circumcincta infections in sheep. N Z Vet J. 2006; 54(1):47-9. DOI: 10.1080/00480169.2006.36604. View

Cerutti M, Citterio C, Bazzocchi C, Epis S, DAmelio S, Ferrari N . Genetic variability of Haemonchus contortus (Nematoda: Trichostrongyloidea) in alpine ruminant host species. J Helminthol. 2009; 84(3):276-83. DOI: 10.1017/S0022149X09990587. View

Goossens B, Osaer S, Ndao M, Van Winghem J, Geerts S . The susceptibility of Djallonké and Djallonké-Sahelian crossbred sheep to Trypanosoma congolense and helminth infection under different diet levels. Vet Parasitol. 1999; 85(1):25-41. DOI: 10.1016/s0304-4017(99)00087-4. View

Kaufmann J, Dwinger R, Hallebeek A, van Dijk B, Pfister K . The interaction of Trypanosoma congolense and Haemonchus contortus infections in trypanotolerant N'Dama cattle. Vet Parasitol. 1992; 43(3-4):157-70. DOI: 10.1016/0304-4017(92)90157-5. View

Jallow O, McGregor B, Anderson N, Holmes J . Intake of trichostrongylid larvae by goats and sheep grazing together. Aust Vet J. 1994; 71(11):361-4. DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1994.tb00927.x. View

Fakae B . The epidemiology of helminthosis in small ruminants under the traditional husbandry system in eastern Nigeria. Vet Res Commun. 1990; 14(5):381-91. DOI: 10.1007/BF00343216. View

Chiejina S, Musongong G, Fakae B, Behnke J, Ngongeh L, Wakelin D . The modulatory influence of Trypanosoma brucei on challenge infection with Haemonchus contortus in Nigerian West African Dwarf goats segregated into weak and strong responders to the nematode. Vet Parasitol. 2005; 128(1-2):29-40. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2004.11.005. View

10.

Gasnier N, Cabaret J . Evidence for the existence of a sheep and a goat line of Teladorsagia circumcincta (Nematoda). Parasitol Res. 1996; 82(6):546-50. DOI: 10.1007/s004360050160. View

11.

Geerts S, Osaer S, Goossens B, Faye D . Trypanotolerance in small ruminants of sub-Saharan Africa. Trends Parasitol. 2009; 25(3):132-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2008.12.004. View

12.

Behnke J, Chiejina S, Musongong G, Nnadi P, Ngongeh L, Abonyi F . Resistance and resilience of traditionally managed West African Dwarf goats from the savanna zone of northern Nigeria to naturally acquired trypanosome and gastrointestinal nematode infections. J Helminthol. 2010; 85(1):80-91. DOI: 10.1017/S0022149X10000295. View

13.

Fakae B, Musongong G, Chiejina S, Behnke J, Ngongeh L, Wakelin D . Variability in the resistance of the Nigerian West African Dwarf goat to abbreviated escalating trickle and challenge infections with Haemonchus contortus. Vet Parasitol. 2004; 122(1):51-65. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2004.02.005. View

14.

Coles G, Warner A, Best J . Triple resistant Ostertagia from angora goats. Vet Rec. 1996; 139(12):299-300. View

15.

Hoste H, Sotiraki S, Landau S, Jackson F, Beveridge I . Goat-nematode interactions: think differently. Trends Parasitol. 2010; 26(8):376-81. DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2010.04.007. View

16.

Patterson D, Jackson F, Huntley J, Stevenson L, Jones D, Jackson E . The response of breeding doses to nematodiasis: segregation into "responders" and "non-responders". Int J Parasitol. 1996; 26(11):1295-303. DOI: 10.1016/s0020-7519(96)00125-7. View

17.

Assoku R . Studies of parasitic helminths of sheep and goats in Ghana. Bull Anim Health Prod Afr. 1981; 29(1):1-10. View

18.

Chiejina S, Fakae B, Behnke J, Nnadi P, Musongong G, Wakelin D . Expression of acquired immunity to a local isolate of Haemonchus contortus by the Nigerian West African Dwarf goat. Vet Parasitol. 2002; 104(3):229-42. DOI: 10.1016/s0304-4017(01)00636-7. View

19.

Chiejina S, Fakae B, Eze P . Development and survival of free-living stages of gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep and goats on pasture in the Nigerian derived savanna. Vet Res Commun. 1989; 13(2):103-12. DOI: 10.1007/BF00346720. View

20.

Mandonnet N, Aumont G, Fleury J, Arquet R, Varo H, Gruner L . Assessment of genetic variability of resistance to gastrointestinal nematode parasites in Creole goats in the humid tropics. J Anim Sci. 2001; 79(7):1706-12. DOI: 10.2527/2001.7971706x. View