L’efficacité antiparasitaire des graines de papaye (Carica papaya) a été testée sur les strongles gastro-intestinaux. L’étude a porté sur 80 moutons répartis en cinq lots de 16 animaux (dix brebis et six agneaux) : un lot témoin, un lot témoin traité avec de l’albendazole à la dose de 5 mg/kg et trois lots ayant reçu de la poudre de graines de papaye séchées au soleil ou à l’étuve à des doses de 100, 200 ou 400 mg/kg de poids vif. Les taux d’infestation par les strongles gastrointestinaux des ovins ont varié en fonction du temps d’un lot à l’autre. L’efficacité des graines de papaye a été optimale à la dose de 200 mg/kg de poids vif avec un taux d’efficacité supérieur à 80 p. 100 sur les strongles, dix jours après le traitement. L’hématocrite est resté stable chez tous les animaux traités à l’albendazole ou aux graines de papaye. Il semble qu’un traitement avec des graines séchées à l’étuve, traitement plus efficace que lorsque les graines sont séchées au soleil, protège les ovins des effets anémiants des nématodes.

Small ruminants farming is a traditional activity mostly practiced by local populations in developing countries since several centuries. Nowadays, due to many biotic and climatic factors, it faces various problems which damage smallholders' income especially those related to gastrointestinal parasites. In opposite to the chemical drugs use in controlling those parasites, medicinal plants have been investigated with fewer side effects on both the meat quality and the environment. This current study aimed at reviewing Haemonchus contortus prevalence in small ruminants across the world and present medicinal plants that have been investigated in the last decades. H. contortus is identified as the most significant nematode parasite in small ruminants due to its high prevalence reported by many studies. Its presence in small ruminants results in a loss of feed absorption and disturbance of nutrient metabolism, which lead to poor performance and significant economic loss in the herds, especially in rural areas of developing countries. For the past decades, its control was mainly based on the use of chemical anthelmintics; whose use has been limited due to several factors like the irrational and misuse. Recently, the use of medicinal plants has been identified as alternatives methods of its control with conclusive results. Parts of plants or the whole plants of several plant species were reported to be relevant to control H. contortus infection in small ruminants such as: