Roundworms of Sheep and Goats

Nematodes are very small, slender worms: typically about 5 to 100 µm thick, and 0.1 to
2.5 mm long.
Eye worm (Thelazia spp): Rarely in sheep but Thelazia californiensis, has recently been
reported as occurring in the eyes of sheep.
 
Lungworms (Dictyocaulus filaria): Found in sheep and goats. Can be very harmful. The
worms live in the small bronchi of the lungs.

Round worm of circulatory system: The roundworm, Elacophora schneideri has been
found in the arteries (carotid, mesenteric, and iliac) of sheep. It is a slender white worm.

Stomach and intestinal round worm:

I. Abdominal worm (Setaria cervi): Found in the abdomen of sheep. Quite harmless,
the larvae reach the bloodstream and are transmitted by blood sucking flies.

II. Wireworm (Haemonchus contortus): Occurring in sheep and goats, this worm is

the most common and most harmful of the roundworms.  Haemonchus worms in
sheep cause the loss of ∼0.05 mL of blood per day and Anaemia develops. The
larvae require moisture for their development and therefore there are often massive
infestations after the rains begin.

III. Brown Stomach-worm (Ostertagia): lives in the abomasums of sheep and goats,

and is particularly in Angora goats.

IV. Bankrupt worm (Trichostrongyles and Cooperia): infect sheep and goats, living
in the small intestine and abomasums. Sheep are most affected and can die from
heavy infestations.
The species of Cooperia commonly found in the small intestine of sheep and goats
are (c. curticei and c. onchophora, c. punctata and c. pectinata) have also been
reported from sheep, although they occur more commonly in cattle.

V. The thread-necked strongyles: Nematodirus spathiger, N. filicollis and N,

abnormalis are found in the small intestines of sheep.

VI. Hookworms (Bunostomum trigonocephalum, Gaigeria): This is a large family of

blood-sucking worms which live in the small intestine of their hosts, which include
sheep, goats. They suck large amounts of blood from the host and cause bleeding
into the intestine. Young animals are particularly affected. A sheep hookworm
Gaigeria causes the host sheep to lose some much blood.
  
Round worm of cecum and colon:
I. Nodular worm (Oesophagostomum columbianum): Commonly infecting sheep
and goats in cecum and colon.Toxic secretions from the worm cause erosion of the
gut wall and eventually these secretions enter the body of the animal, basically
poisoning the whole system. Sheep grow thin and weak, emaciated and die.

II. Large-mouthed worm (Chabertia ovina): is commonly found in the coiled portion

of the colon of sheep and goats. They cause anaemia and loss of condition.

III. Whipworm (Trichuris ovis): A relatively harmless worm which lives in the

mucous membranes (cecum, or blind gut) of the large intestine of sheep and goats.
It is sometimes mistaken for the nodular worm, but causes far less damage.
 
Sign and symptoms of Round worm infestation
Some animals can carry a worm burden and appear unaffected, showing no symptoms.
Young animals and animals under stress due to malnutrition, disease etc are more
affected. However, even healthy adults, if they have a large worm burden will show
symptoms and a loss of production. Young animals show stunted growth and
development, are pot-bellied , have poor coats and may have diarrhoea. Animals with
many blood-sucking worms can shows signs of anaemia.  In extreme cases they may die.
 Haemonchus: Haemonchosis, anaemia, Bottle jaw
 Ostertagia: principal genus involved in the periparturient rise in fecal egg counts
in sheep, and heavy infections may cause diarrhea and depress milk production in
ewes.
 Trichostrongylus (T colubriformis): Anorexia, persistent diarrhea, and weight
loss are the main signs. Villous atrophy (or stunting of villi) results in impaired
digestion and malabsorption; protein loss occurs across the damaged mucosa.
 Nematodirus spp: The disease has a characteristic seasonal pattern. Many of the
eggs passed by affected lambs lie dormant through the remainder of the grazing
season and the winter, with large numbers of larvae appearing during the early
grazing period of the following year. Most clinical infections are seen in lambs 6–
12 wk old.
 Chabertia sp: Adult worms cause severe damage to the mucosa of the colon,
with resulting congestion, ulceration, and small hemorrhages. Infected sheep are
unthrifty; the feces are soft, contain much mucus, and may be streaked with
blood. Immunity develops quickly, and outbreaks are seen only under conditions
of severe stress
 Strongyloides sp: Heavy infections with adult worms cause a trichostrongylosis.
Damage to the skin between the claws, produced by skin-penetrating larvae,
resembles the early stages of footrot.
 Trichuris spp: Congestion and edema of the cecal mucosa, accompanied by
diarrhea and unthriftiness, are seen.
Common symptoms of intestinal worms are:

 abdominal pain
 diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting
 gas/bloating
 fatigue
 unexplained weight loss
 abdominal pain or tenderness
Diagnosis:

 Tentative diagnosis through signs and symptoms

 Fecal egg count
 Testing individual animals
 “Scotch tape” test
Treatment:
 Anthelmintic medication: Many drugs have been tried and recommended as
anthelmintics, but, for all practical purposes, there are at the present time only
three drugs and one combination of drugs available for effective treatment;
Phenothiazine, copper sulfate, tetrachlorethylene, and a combination of copper
sulfate and nicotine solution.
 Albendazole of 10 mg/kg body weight, Fenbendazole of 0.2 - 0.5 mg/kg body
weigh s/c
 Levamisole and oxyclazanide in combination should be given by mouth at 0.25
ml/kg body weight.
 Copper sulfate solution is poured alongside the tongue in case of
Oesophagostomum columbianum. Copper sulfate alone is effective against the
common twisted stomach worm, Haemcnchus contortus.
 The intratracheal injection of various drugs and combinations of drugs, the
inhalation of chloroform and sulfur fumes, and the administration of certain
volatile compounds-that are excreted through the lungs. There is no medicinal
treatment for the removal of either gullet worms or hair lungworms.
 Phenothiazine has a very high degree of efficacy when used in the treatment of
sheep for large stomach worms, Haemonchus contortus; hookworms; nodular
worms, Oesophagostormmi columbianum; and large-mouthed bowel worms,
ostertagia ovina. It has given satisfactory results when used in treating sheep for
the small trichostrongyles, Ostertagia. It appears to be ineffective, however, in the
 treatment of sheep for the removal of thread-necked strongyles, Nematodirus
species; whipworms, and Trichuris species.
 Injectable dectomax is effective against most roundworms of sheep, cattle and
goats, parafilaria and sheep scab.
 Finiworm is registered for cattle, sheep, goats, horses and pigs and is effective
against most roundworm including migrating lungworm, nodular worm.
 Systamex is an effective treatment for susceptible strains of Small Brown Stomach
Worm, (including inhibited larvae), Stomach Hair Worm, Barber’s Pole Worm,
Small intestinal Worm, Thin-necked Intestinal Worm, Nodule Worm, Black Scour
Worm, Hookworm.
 Valbanzen® for sheep and goat is a remedy for roundworm, lungworm, milk
tapeworm and liver fluke in sheep and goats. Prevents roundworm eggs present in
the animal at dosing from hatching.
 
Prevention and control
 Pasture rotation: Pasture rest
 Anthelmintic medication: Rotation of anthelmintics
 Regular caring of sheep and goat
 High protein diets enhances the immune system
 Combinations of anthelmintics
 Prevent the entry of resistant worms onto farms from other farms.
 Use new strategies (FAMACHA)
 Use anthelmintics only when necessary
 Work out a control strategy with veterinarian or advisor.