Abstract #M483

# M483
Probiotic supplementation affects resilience to parasites in goats.
Mulumebet Worku*1, Kingsley Ekwemalour1, Emmanuel Asiama1, Hamid Ismail1, Sara Adjei-Fremah1, 1North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC.

The objective of this study was to evaluate resistance and resilience to gastrointestinal parasites in goats following supplementation with probiotics. Improving resistance and resilience to gastro-intestinal parasites is essential to combating the threat to the small ruminant industry from anthelmintic resistance. Following initial screening for infection, female SpanishXBoer goats were assigned to 4 groups of 4 (n = 16), one week post weaning. Goats were drenched daily with 10 mL sterile water containing recommended doses of either CorPET (treatment I)-a probiotic from the mushroom Coriolus versicolor (Mycology Research Laboratories, Ltd., Netherlands), Fastrak microbial pack (treatment II) or ruminant gel(treatment III) (Conklin Company, Inc. Shakopee, MN). A control group of age-matched goats received sterile water (treatment IV) for an 8 week period. Samples were collected weekly. Body weight, Body condition and FAMACHA scores were evaluated. Fecal samples were used for Hemonchus and coccidia egg counts to evaluate resistance. Blood samples were used to measure Packed cell volume (PCV) and for isolation of total RNA using Tri-reagent. The Nanodrop spectrophotometer was used to evaluate RNA concentration and purity. Data were analyzed using SAS PROC MIXED for repeated measures analyses. The effect of treatment on fecal egg count was variable. Treatment with commercial probiotics significantly increased body weight in wk 8, improved FAMACHA scores in wk 7,PCV was improved by treatments II and III in wk 5 (P < 0.05).There was no effect on body condition score.Transcription of total RNA in blood increased during periods of high parasite egg output and were not affected by treatment (P > 0.05). Thus probiotic supplementation may affect resilience to parasite infection in goats in a time and marker specific manner.

Key Words: goat, probiotic, resilience