Availability of Haemonchus contortus L3 larvae on pasture at Kiboko: a semi-arid warm agro-climatic zone in Kenya

A study was carried out to determine the availability of Haemonchus contortus L3 larvae on pasture in a semi-arid warm agro-climatic zone of Kenya. By means of tracer sheep, it was shown that no H. contortus L3 larvae were available on pasture during the dry periods of the year (July-October and February). They were only available on pasture during the rainy season (November-January and March-June). Sheep permanently grazed on the same pasture however, harboured adult H. contortus in their abomasa throughout the year indicating that the perpetuation of haemonchosis in livestock in this agro-climatic zone was greatly dependent on the ability of the parasite to survive in the host throughout all seasons.