Artemisia cina ethanolic extract reduces the infection of Haemonchus contortus in lambs

Resumen

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the anthelmintic efficacy of an ethanolic extract (Ac eth/ext) derived from leaves and stems of Artemisia cina in lambs artificially infected with Haemonchus contortus. Design/Methodology/Approach: Three experimental groups of H. contortus-infected lambs (n = 5) were assigned to the following treatments: (1) Ethanolic extract of A. cina (Ac eth/ext) at 4 mg/kg body weight (BW); (2) Albendazole at 5 mg/kg BW and (3) control group (5 mL of water). Treatments were administered orally as a single dose, and fecal egg count (FEC) along with ocular mucosa color were monitored for seven days. Limitations/Implications: At the end of the study,all lambs were sacrificed, and the abomasum was extracted to recover adult parasites, which were subsequently counted and sexed. Results: The Ac eth/ext group exhibited a significant 47% reduction in FEC compared to the control group (p < 0.05). In contrast, albendazole treatment resulted in a 100% reduction in FEC values. The ethanolic extract also reduced the parasite burden by 30%, whereas albendazole led to a 5.31% reduction. Findings/Conclusions: The ethanolic extract of A. cina (Ac eth/ext) could serve as a valuable complementary tool for the control of ovine haemonchosis. However, further research is necessary to identify the bioactive molecules responsible for its anthelmintic properties. Additionally, reducing the parasite burden in female worms may have a positive impact by lowering FEC values and subsequently decreasing pasture contamination.