avaliação de extratos naturais sobre a eclodibilidade de ovos de parasitos gastrintestinais de pequenos ruminantes

Abstract

The significant increase in the breeding of small ruminants, such as sheep and goats, in Brazil in recent years has been accompanied by challenges related to gastrointestinal helminth infections. These infections can impair the health of herds and affect their production. Caused by nematodes of the Trichostrongylidae family, such as Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, Ostertagia, Nematodirus, and Cooperia, these infections can lead to health problems, including weight loss and diarrhea in animals. Diagnosis of these parasites is performed through coproparasitological exams, although species identification is more apparent in the larval stage after egg hatching due to their morphological similarity. Currently, these parasites are treated using synthetic medications such as benzimidazoles, tetramisole, levamisole, macrocyclic lactones, and ivermectin. However, there are reports of resistance and reduced effectiveness of these medications due to improper and frequent use, leading to anthelmintic resistance. As an alternative, studies are investigating the potential of natural compounds in controlling gastrointestinal parasites in ruminants. This study evaluated the anthelmintic potential of aqueous extract of tannic acid, green propolis, and oleoresins from Copaifera sp. species, known for their medicinal properties, on the hatching of ruminant helminth eggs. In vitro assays were conducted to assess the prevention of Trichostrongylidae egg hatching by these compounds. The results indicated that green propolis, C. langsdorfii, tannic acid, and C. publifora showed the ability to inhibit egg hatching by 98.88%, 83.02%, 58.62%, and 52.71%, respectively, at the highest tested concentration. These findings hold promise for the development of alternative treatments for nematode infections in ruminants. However, further studies are needed to better understand the effects of these compounds, especially regarding appropriate dosage, toxicity, and efficacy in other evolutionary stages of the parasite, before practical application in livestock. Therefore, the research suggests a line of study for the development of new anthelmintic therapies, but implementing these compositions in practice requires additional investigation to ensure their effectiveness and safety for herds.