FAMACHA eye anemia system

by Susan Schoenian

1. FAMACHA©
Eye Anemia System
TheFAMACHA©eyeanemiasystemwasdevelopedalmost30yearsagobySouthAfricanresearchersinresponse
toincreasingdewormerresistance.FAMACHA©isacoloreyechartthatestimatesthelevelofanemia(bloodloss)
insmallruminants.Anemiaistheprimarysymptomofthebarberpoleworm(Haemonchuscontortus),theprimary
wormaffectingsmallruminantsinwarm,moistclimates.Todetermineifasheep,goat,alpaca,orllamaneedsto
bedewormed,thecolorofthemembranesofitslowereyelidiscomparedtothecolorsontheFAMACHA©card.The
FAMACHA©carddisplaysfivecolorandtreatmentcategories(recommendations).Smallruminantsthatarenot
anemic(1,2)don’tusuallyrequiredeworming.Selectivedewormingincreasesrefugiaandslowsthedevelopmentof
resistantworms.FAMACHA©isonlyusefulforblood-feedingparasites,suchasthebarberpoleworm.
Category Color Deworm ?
1 Red No
2 Pinkish red No
3 Pink Yes-No
4 Pinkish whiteYes
5 White Yes
COVER –PUSH –PULL –POP
COVER the top eyelid | Gently PUSH down on the eyelid | PULL down the bottom eyelid | The mucous membranes will POP into view
You must take an
official training in
order to get a
FAMACHA© card. Go
to WormX.info. Online
training is available.