The faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) was conducted on local goats in a smallholder farm on the outskirts of Ipoh. Levamisole drug tested for resistance against strongyles, was administered orally at the rate of 10 mg/kg body weight. Results showed that thestrongyle worm population was resistant to levamisole. The percentage reduction was 75% and lower confidence limit less than 90%. The worm population was made up mainly of Haemonchus contortus(71%), followed by Oesophagostomum sp.(18%) and Trichostrongylus sp. (11%). This finding indicates that anthelmintic resistance is an existing problem in Malaysia, even on a small farm. Alternativeapproaches to chemical anthelmintics have been recommended to controlnematodes in goats such as improved grazing management, herbal medication or biological control, to delay the occurrence of chemical resistance and prevent severe helminth infections in goat flocks.

This study was done to evaluate the status of resistance to nematode populations on four major groups of anthelminthics. Nematode faecalegg count reduction tests (FECRT) were conducted on six free grazing small holder goat farms (namely Farms A-F) in Perak.The four drug groups tested in this study were Benzimidazoles, Imidazothiazoles,Macrocyclic Lactones and Salicylanilides. Faecal samples were subjected to the standard procedures of McMaster for worm egg estimation and also larval cultures for third stage larvae identification. Results of Farm A, Farm C and Farm D showed resistance to all 4 drugs groups of anthelminthic that were tested and the major worm population of this farm were Haemonchus contortus (49.75%), Trichostrongylus colubriformis (47.71%) and Cooperia sp. (2.53%). The results of Farm B and Farm F showed resistance to all the 3 groups of anthelminthics except Levamisole and the worm population of this farm was Haemonchus contortus (47.30%), Trichostrongylus sp. (38.44%), Oesophagostomum columbianum (13.50%) and Cooperia sp. (0.76%) Farm E was resistant to Benzimidazoles andsuspected resistance to 3 drugs groups; Levamisole, Macrocyclic Lactones and Closantel. The worm population for Farm E was Haemonchus contortus (71.35%), Trichostrongylus sp. (27.6%) and Oesophagostomum sp. (2%). These farms have a history of using the same anthelminthics over the past few years, thus leading to the severe case of anthelminthic resistance. Recommendations have beenmade to control helminths using alternative approaches such as cut and carry feeding, herbal medication using Neem leaves (Azadirachta indica) and rotational grazing as well as improvement in management of animals to increase their immunity.

A case of a cestode parasite (Choanotaenia infundibulum) egg wasfound in the intestine of chicken which was sent to the Veterinary Research Institute, Ipoh in February 2014 for post-mortem. Other parasites found in the intestine were adult tapeworm and oocyst ofcoccidia. The examination of the chicken intestine for helminth ova was undertaken using direct examination of a simple wet smear of the intestinal content which was observed under compound microscope.The cestode parasite was identified based on helminthological keys by Soulsby, 1982.