Department of Animal Science, University of Goettingen, Albrecht Thaer Weg 3, 37075 Goettingen, Germany.
Vet Parasitol. 2009 Dec 3;166(1-2):108-11. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2009.07.040. Epub 2009 Aug 3.
Infections with gastrointestinal nematodes, in particular Haemonchus contortus, are worldwide one of the most important factors causing high economic losses in sheep production. Different methods for detecting infections with H. contortus have been described, such as, e.g. the FAMACHA system, which categorises the colour of the conjunctivae from red to pale. When H. contortus is not the predominant parasite, the FAMACHA chart might not be suitable to detect nematode infections, because of the lack of a blood feeding parasite. Otherwise breed-specific differences in the colour of the mucosa could be responsible for the limitations of the FAMACHA system. The aim of the study was to compare different methods of measuring mucosa colour in the German sheep breeds Black Head Mutton (BH) and Leine sheep (LE). In a total of 232 6-months-old lambs, the colour of mucosa was measured using the FAMACHA chart (conjunctivae) as well as the colour analyser Minolta Chroma Meter CR-200b (gingivae). Faeces and blood samples were taken at the same time to determine faecal egg counts per gram faeces (FEC) and the packed cell volume (PCV), respectively. Lambs grazed on contaminated pastures and no anthelmintic treatment was used. Lambs were moderately infected with gastrointestinal nematodes with no significant difference between the two breeds (P>0.05). The prevalence of H. contortus was 23%, based on larvae differentiation of coproculture. There was no significant correlation between FEC and PCV, nor FEC and FAMACHA (P>0.05). Significant differences (P<0.05) were found between the BH and LE lambs with regard to the colour measurement traits Chroma, hue-angle and FAMACHA. Beside the relatively low parasite pressure, these differences in the mucosa colour between the two breeds could be responsible for the limitations of the FAMACHA chart as a useful indicator of a nematode infection. Measuring the colour of the mucosa by using a colour analyser seems to be more suitable to detect less developed anaemic situations in sheep (PCV> or =0.27l/l), as shown by significant correlation coefficients between PCV and Chroma and HA, respectively. It can be concluded, that the measurement of mucosa colour with a colour analyser is more sensitive in detecting anaemic states in sheep, compared to the FAMACHA chart. However, because the colour analyser is not suited for measurements in the field, an adaptation of the FAMACHA colour scales for different sheep breeds might be required.
感染胃肠道线虫，尤其是捻转血矛线虫，是全世界导致绵羊生产中高经济损失的最重要因素之一。已经描述了用于检测捻转血矛线虫感染的不同方法，例如 FAMACHA 系统，该系统将结膜的颜色从红色到苍白进行分类。当捻转血矛线虫不是主要寄生虫时，由于缺乏血液寄生虫，FAMACHA 图表可能不适合检测线虫感染。否则，由于粘膜的颜色在品种间存在差异，FAMACHA 系统可能存在局限性。本研究的目的是比较德国黑面羊（BH）和莱因羊（LE）两种绵羊品种测量粘膜颜色的不同方法。在总共 232 只 6 月龄的羔羊中，使用 FAMACHA 图表（结膜）和 Minolta Chroma Meter CR-200b 颜色分析仪（牙龈）测量粘膜颜色。同时采集粪便和血液样本，以确定粪便每克粪便的卵数（FEC）和红细胞压积（PCV）。羔羊在受污染的牧场上放牧，未使用驱虫药物。羔羊中度感染胃肠道线虫，两个品种之间无显著差异（P>0.05）。基于粪便培养物中幼虫的分化，捻转血矛线虫的流行率为 23%。FEC 与 PCV 之间，FEC 与 FAMACHA 之间均无显著相关性（P>0.05）。BH 和 LE 羔羊之间在颜色测量特征色值、色调角和 FAMACHA 方面存在显著差异（P<0.05）。除了相对较低的寄生虫压力外，两个品种之间粘膜颜色的这些差异可能是 FAMACHA 图表作为线虫感染有用指标的局限性的原因。使用颜色分析仪测量粘膜颜色似乎更适合检测绵羊中不太发达的贫血情况（PCV≥0.27l/l），这表明 PCV 与色值和 HA 之间存在显著相关系数。可以得出结论，与 FAMACHA 图表相比，颜色分析仪测量粘膜颜色在检测绵羊贫血状态方面更敏感。然而，由于颜色分析仪不适合野外测量，可能需要为不同绵羊品种改编 FAMACHA 颜色量表。
