Parasitic Gastroenteritis (PGE) in ruminants

Introduction
Parasitic gastroenteritis (PGE) is a disease complex
associated with a number of nematode species,
mostly strongyles, either singly or in combination. It is
characterised by diarrhoea, less than optimum
productivity (sub-clinical disease), seasonal appearance
and hypoalbuminaemia.
Etiology
The common GIT worms in ruminates which cause
gastroenteritis are 
Haemonchus placei (barber’s pole worm, large
stomach worm, wire worm), 
Haemonchus contortus
Ostertagia ostertagi (medium or brown stomach
worm),
Trichostrongylus axei (small stomach worm)
N. battus
Predisposing factor
host immunity
nutrition; gross deficiency or mineral/trace element
deficiency e.g. cobalt
Season
Pathogenesis
Infection by ingestion of an infective larva (L3),
development to L4 and adult stages is generally
restricted to gastric or intestinal mucosa (although a few
species migrate around the body), adult worms
eventually emerge to lie on the mucosal surface.
Development from L1 → L2 → L3 is temperature
dependent.
The prepatent period is normally 2 weeks.
Clinical findings
Anorexia
Weight loss
Reduced weight gain
Blood in feces
Diarrhea
often profuse and characteristic depending on the parasite
involved, e.g. dark if Trichostrongylus and greenish if Nematodirus.
Anemia
Suboptimal production
oedema in severe chronic cases.
In acute cases, the only clinical sign may be sudden death.
Diagnosis
signs, grazing history, and season
Confirmation by demonstrating nematode eggs or tapeworm segments
on fecal examination
The advent of safe and effective broad-spectrum anthelmintics has
largely reduced the need to differentiate the genera and species of these
parasites. 
 Note:
1) a fecal worm egg count (number of worm eggs per gram (EPG) of feces is not
always an accurate indication of the number of adult worms present, and 2)
specific identification of certain nematode eggs (eg, “strongyles”) is impractical
except in specialized laboratories. EPG counts can be negative or deceptively low
in the presence of large numbers of immature worms; even when many adult
parasites are present, the count can be low if egg production has been
suppressed by host immune reaction or recent anthelmintic treatment. 
 Treatment and control
Inclusion of tannin-rich forages in pasture, and alternation
of grazing and cropping
Regular deworming after every 3 months with alternative
dewormers
Broad-spectrum anthelmintics currently available belong to
five different chemical groups as given in the following
 Treatment and control
Sr. Class Different forms Usage
N
o
1 benzimidazoles Niclosamide, praziquantel, effective against almost all GI
(white drenches) fenbendazole, oxfendazole, parasites
and albendazole
2 Imidazothiazoles levamisole, morantel, and effective against all GI praistes
(yellow drenches) pyrantel except inhibited larvae
3 Macrocyclic lactones avermectins and Effective against all GI
(clear drenches): milbemycins nematodes including some
ectoparasites
4 Amino-acetonitrile Monepantel Oral drenches for
derivatives multiresistant GI parasites but
use with care
5 Spiroindoles Derquantel Oral drenches for
multiresistant GI parasites but
use with care
 Treatment and control
Strategy of treatment
1) provide adequate nutrition; (2) treat all animals in the group,
as a preventive measure and to reduce further pasture
contamination; and 3) either house or move stock to “clean”
pastures to minimize reinfection. 
Route of administration:
drenching or injecting, while labor saving methods include
incorporating into feed, drinking water, and mineral or energy
blocks