Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sensitivity and specificity of the FAMACHA© system in tropical hair sheep

  • Short Communications
  • Published:
Tropical Animal Health and Production Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of this research was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the FAMACHA© (F©) system in Morada Nova ewes. The conjunctivae of 562 ewes were evaluated using the F© system. Packed cell volume (PCV) served as the gold standard for clinical F© evaluation. To calculate the sensitivity and specificity of the F© system, different criteria were adopted: animals classified as (I) F© 4 and 5 or (II) 3, 4, and 5 were considered to be anemic and animals classified as (I) F© 1, 2, and 3, or (II) 1 and 2 were considered to be non-anemic. Three standard values of PCV, namely, ≤ 19%, ≤ 18%, or ≤ 15%, were used to confirm anemia. The percentage of correct treatments was always high when the F© values 4 and 5 were used as criteria for positive tests. For all the PCV cut-off values, more animals were classified as false positives when evaluated using F© 3, 4, and 5 as criteria for a positive test and more true negative animals when evaluated using only F© 4 and 5 as criteria for a positive test. For both sets of criteria for the positive tests, few animals were classified as false negatives and true positives. Eliminating the classification of F© 3 as anemic decreased the sensitivity and increased the specificity for all the PCV cut-off values for the ewes. The F© system can be used as a reliable alternative to reduce selection pressure for anthelmintics in relation to routine non-selective blanket treatment for worm control in the Morada Nova ewes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Arandas, J.H.G., Alves, A.C.G., Facó, O., Belchior, E.B., Shiotsuki, L., Leite, P.M.B.A. and Ribeiro, N.M., 2017. Do traditional sheep breeders perform conscious selection? An example from a participatory breeding program of Morada Nova sheep, Tropical Animal Health and Production, 49, 1--9

    Google Scholar 

  • Arece-García, J., López-Leyva, Y., González-Garduño, R., Torres-Hernández, G., Rojo-Rubio, R. and Marie-Magdeleine, C., 2016. Effect of selective anthelmintic treatments on health and production parameters in Pelibuey ewes during lactation, Tropical Animal Health and Production, 48, 283--287

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cintra, M.C.R., Ollhoff, R.D. and Sotomaior, C.S., 2018. Sensitivity and specificity of the FAMACHA© system in growing lambs, Veterinary Parasitology, 251, 106--111

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ferreira, J.B., Bezerra, A.C.D.S., Guilhermino, M.M., Leite, J.H.G.M., Silva, W.E., Paiva, R. D.M., Barbosa, T.N., Sousa, E.R. and Façanha, D.A.E., 2017. Performance, endoparasitary control and blood values of ewes locally adapted in semiarid region, Comparative Immunology, Microbiology & Infection Diseases, 52, 23--29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferreira, J.B., Paiva, R.D.M., Bezerra, A.C.D.S., Sousa, E.R. and Façanha, D.A.E., 2018. A multivariate approach to the diagnosis of gastrointestinal infection in ewes, Veterinary Parasitology, 252, 95--97

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gordon, H.M. and Whitlock, H.V., 1939. A new technique for counting nematode eggs in sheep faeces, Journal of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, 12, 50--62

    Google Scholar 

  • Grace, D., Himstedt, H., Sidibi, I., Randolph, T. and Clausen, P.-H., 2007. Comparing FAMACHA© eye color chart and hemoglobin color scale tests for detecting anemia and improving treatment of bovine trypanosomosis in West Africa. Veterinary Parasitology, 147, 26--39

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jain, N.C.,1986. Schalm’s Veterinary Haematology (4 ed. Lea & Febiger, Filadélfia)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, R.M., Burke, J.M., Terril, T.H., Miller, J.E., Getz, W.R., Mobini, S.,Valencia, E., Williams, M.J., Williamson, L.H., Larsen, M. and Vatta, A.F., 2004. Validation of the FAMACHA© eye color chart for detecting clinical anemia in sheep and goats on farms in the southern United States. Veterinary Parasitology. 123, 105--120

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Martínez-Valladares, M., Martínez-Pérez, J.M., Robles-Pérez, D., Cordero-Pérez, C. and Famularo, M.R., 2013. The present status of anthelmintic resistance in gastrointestinal nematode infections of sheep in the northwest of Spain by in vivo and in vitro techniques. Veterinary Parasitology, 191, 177--181

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moors, E. and Gauly, M., 2009. Is the FAMACHA chart suitable for every breed? Correlations between FAMACHA© scores and different traits of mucosa colour in naturally parasite infected sheep breeds, Veterinary Parasitology, 166, 108--111

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mphahlele, M., Tsotetsi-Khambule, A.M., Moerane, R, Mashiloane, M.L. and Thekisoe, O.M.M., 2018. Risk factors associated with occurrence of anthelmintic resistance in sheep of resource-poor farmers in Limpopo province, South Africa. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 51, 1--9

    Google Scholar 

  • Olah, S., Van Wyk, J.A., Wall, R. and Morgan, E.R., 2015. FAMACHA©: A potential tool for targeted selective treatment of chronic fasciolosis in sheep. Veterinary Parasitology, 212, 188--192

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sotomaior, C.S., Rosalinski-Morais, F., Costa, A.R.B., Maia, D., Monteiro, A.L.G. and Van Wyk, J.A., 2012. Sensitivity and specificity of the FAMACHA© system in Suffolk sheep and crossbred Boer goats, Veterinary Parasitology, 190, 111--119

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, M. and Syamala, K., 2017. Sensitivity and specificity of the FAMACHA© system in attapady black goats of kerala. Indian Journal of Small Ruminant, 23, 20--207

    Google Scholar 

  • Thrusfield, M.V., 2005. Veterinary Epidemiology, (3rd ed. Blackwell, Cambridge)

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Wyk, J.A., 2001. Refugia – overlooked as perhaps the most important factor concerning the development of anthelmintic resistance, Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, 68, 55--67

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Van Wyk, J.A. and Bath, G.F., 2002. The FAMACHA© system for managing haemonchosis in sheep and goats by clinically identifying individual animals for treatment, Veterinary Research, 33, 509--529

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vatta, A.F., Letty, B.A., Van der Linde, M.J., Van Wijk, E.F., Hansen, J.W. and Krecek, R.C., 2001. Testing for clinical anaemia caused by Haemonchus spp. in goats farmed under,resource-poor conditions in South Africa using an eye colour chart developed for sheep. Veterinary Parasitology, 99, 1--14

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the students from the Research Group of Adaptive Physiology and Conservation of Genetic Resources of Federal University of Semiarid and the partnership with the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná (PUCPR).

Funding

This study was financed by the EMBRAPA Sheep and Goats (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation) and in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior-Brasil (CAPES)-Finance Code 001.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Adaptive Physiology and Genetic Resources, Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Semiarid (UFERSA), Rodovia BR 110, Km 47, Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, 59625-900, Brazil

    Josiel Borges Ferreira, Wilma Emanuela da Silva, Jacinara Hody Gurgel Morais Leite & Débora Andréa Evangelista Façanha

  2. Animal Science Program (PPGCA), UFERSA, Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, 59625-900, Brazil

    Josiel Borges Ferreira & Wilma Emanuela da Silva

  3. Graduate Program in Animal Science (PPGCA), School of Life Sciences, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná (PUCPR), Curitiba, Paraná, 80215-901, Brazil

    Cristina Santos Sotomaior

  4. Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Department of Animal Science, UFERSA, Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, 59625-900, Brazil

    Ana Carla Diógenes Suassuna Bezerra

  5. Laboratory of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Department of Animal Science, UFERSA, Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, 59625-900, Brazil

    José Ernandes Rufino de Sousa

  6. Animal Science Program (PPGCA), School of Life Sciences, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná (PUCPR), Curitiba, Paraná, 80215-901, Brazil

    Jesséa de Fátima França Biz

Authors
  1. Josiel Borges Ferreira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Cristina Santos Sotomaior
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ana Carla Diógenes Suassuna Bezerra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Wilma Emanuela da Silva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jacinara Hody Gurgel Morais Leite
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. José Ernandes Rufino de Sousa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Jesséa de Fátima França Biz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Débora Andréa Evangelista Façanha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Josiel Borges Ferreira.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ferreira, J.B., Sotomaior, C.S., Bezerra, A.C.D.S. et al. Sensitivity and specificity of the FAMACHA© system in tropical hair sheep. Trop Anim Health Prod 51, 1767–1771 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-019-01861-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-019-01861-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation