Supplementation of orally drenched ascorbic acid and injectable α-tocopherol reduces markers of naturally acquired gastrointestinal parasites in grazing hair sheep

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of exogenous vitamin E and C supplementation in grazing hair sheep on markers of naturally acquired parasites, hypothesizing that supplementing vitamins may be effective as anthelmintics in controlling parasites. Twenty-six lambs and thirty-one ewes were stratified by FAMACHA® scores and placed in one of five treatment groups: (1) control (CON; Lambs: n = 6, Ewes: n = 4), (2) dewormer (DW; Levamed; 0.08 mg/kg; Lambs: n = 5, Ewes: n = 7), (3) vitamin C (VC; Vitamin C;0.56 ml/kg of BW; Lambs: n = 5, Ewes: n = 6), (4) vitamin E (VE; Vitamin E 300; 22 IU/kg of BW; Lambs: n = 6, Ewes: n = 7), and (5) combination of vitamins E and C (E+C; same dosages as vitamins C and E; Lambs: n = 4, Ewes: n = 7). Physiological, parasitology and blood metabolite parameters samples were collected on day 0, 14, 28, 56, and 77. The following parameters and treatments are compared to the CON, unless otherwise mentioned. FAMACHA® scores improved in lambs treated with DW (P = 0.0001), E+C (P = 0.04), VC (P = 0.02), and VE (P = 0.01). Eggs per gram (EPG) decreased in lambs treated with DW (P = 0.001), VC (P = 0.001) and VE (P = 0.008). Alanine transaminase (ALT) decreased (P = 0.04) in lambs treated with DW and VE treated lambs increased (P = 0.02) in ALT compared to the dewormer. Packed cell volume (PCV) in the ewes improved with E+C (P = 0.02) and VE (P = 0.03) compared to DW. The data suggests that vitamin E and C supplementation can be used as a tool to assist in managing parasites in grazing hair sheep.