Background:

Nematodes are gastrointestinal parasites that infect ovines. They can cause economic losses leading to the most serious problems in extensive ovine production, particularly in tropical areas of up to a billion dollars worldwide.

Aim.

To collect information about the main biological activities of A. indica (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) tree leaf extracts to evaluate their possible use in the future as a clinical treatment to control gastrointestinal nematodes in ovines.

Development:

The productive and economic problems caused by gastrointestinal parasitosis in animals, where anthelmintic resistance results from failure to use anthelmintics at adequate levels for proper livestock productive potential. Hence, alternative methods to control gastrointestinal nematodes capable of reducing the parasitic burdens are being studied presently. The attribute of alternative methods is to reduce the dependence on commercial anthelmintics, which means fewer treatments to animals a year, thus permitting the preservation of susceptible parasites on the farm. The utilization of farms with anthelmintic properties has become one of the most interesting alternatives recently. The A. indica tree is one of the plants that has antiparasitic activity.

Conclusions:

A. indica (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) tree leaf extracts constitute an alternative ecological source to control gastrointestinal nematodes in ovines, due to their anthelmintic effect and the promotion of biodiversity. Compared to chemical anthelmintics, they have a lower chance of developing resistance, demonstrating safety, cost-effectiveness, and ease of use, since they are present in the environment, and are useful to farmers. The plant extracts might integrate into a program for a comprehensive control method designed to control parasites sustainably in ovine production systems. They could also be part of studies on phylum plathelminth parasites, with a broader epidemiological prevalence.