Faffa Malan Chart score is a poor single indicator for gastrointestinal parasitic burden of small ruminants in New York State.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the associations between Faffa Malan Chart (FAMACHA) score, fecal strongyle eggs per gram (EPG), Hct, total protein (TP), and body condition score (BCS) in small ruminants in New York State.

METHODS

Pastured animals not given anthelmintics within 4 weeks were enrolled. From June 1 to August 11, 2021 (period A), 137 goats and 110 sheep on 20 farms with a FAMACHA score of 3 to 5 were enrolled. From July 6 to October 19, 2022 (period B), 79 goats and 72 sheep on 18 farms with FAMACHA scores of 1 to 5 were enrolled. Associations between FAMACHA score, strongyle EPG, Hct, TP, and BCS were investigated.

RESULTS

FAMACHA scores were not associated with strongyle EPG in goats or sheep in either period. Increasing FAMACHA score was associated with lower Hct for goats in both periods and for sheep in period B, but not period A. Strongyle EPG was not associated with BCS in goats or sheep in either period. Increasing strongyle EPG was associated with declining Hct in both species and periods and with declining TP in both species in period A and in goats in period B.

CONCLUSIONS

We found no association between FAMACHA score and strongyle EPG. Further epidemiologic study of gastrointestinal nematodes is necessary to determine the best criteria for employing selective anthelmintic treatment in similar populations.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Veterinarians should consider using multiple parameters to estimate parasitic burden in addition to FAMACHA when deciding to administer anthelmintics to small ruminants in New York State.