Effect of a tropical tannin-rich plant Lysiloma latisiliquum on adult populations of Haemonchus contortus in sheep

Abstract

Bioactive plants with anthelmintic (AH) properties represent a promising alternative solution to chemical treatments. The AH effect of several Mexican tannin-rich (TR) plants has been screened in vitro. The in vivo AH effect of one TR legume, Lysiloma latisiliquum (Tzalam) on nematode larval establishment was confirmed. The present trial aimed at evaluating the direct and indirect effects of L. latisiliquum fodder consumption on adult Haemonchus contortus. Twenty-two parasite-naïve hair sheep lambs were allocated to an infected group (I) (400H. contortus L(3)/kg BW on D0) and a non-infected group (NI). From D0 to D28 post infection (PI), all the lambs were fed a complete diet. On D28, the two groups were sub-divided into four groups. Two control (C) groups maintained on the original basal diet (CI: 6 infected lambs and CNI: 5 non-infected lambs). The two treatment groups (T) received L. latisiliquum fodder ad libitum up to D36 when lambs were humanely slaughtered (TI: 6 infected lambs and TNI: 5 non-infected lambs). From D28 to D36 PI, individual fodder consumption and nematode egg excretion were measured daily. At necropsy, abomasal contents were recovered to obtain worm burdens and measure the female worm length and fecundity. Histological samples were taken from the respective abomasums and small intestines to count mucosal inflammatory cells. An increased consumption of TR fodder was observed in the TI vs. the TNI group (P<0.01). Before L. latisiliquum distribution, faecal egg excretion was similar in TI and CI groups. From D29 PI the TI group showed lower faecal egg counts compared to CI group (P<0.02). Although no differences in worm burdens were observed, worms of the TI group were smaller and, according to their size, contained fewer eggs in utero than worms from the CI group (P<0.05). Only minor differences in mucosal inflammatory cells were observed between groups, indicating that the indirect effect was not evident. Thus, a short-term consumption of L. latisiliquum can modulate directly the biology of adult H. contortus affecting the worm size and female fecundity while the worm burdens were not affected. Infected animals ate more L. latisiliquum fodder than non-infected animals.