Professional Documents
Culture Documents
By
Page Bishop
12-01-2005
Parasites
• It is important to realize that each region of the country will have
different parasite problems and potentially different
prevention/treatment programs. Therefore, it is important to involve
a local veterinarian in all parasite control programs. Proper nutrition
is of extreme importance in the control of the effects of parasitism.
Animals in good condition and receiving adequate feed are often
able to establish some resistance to internal parasites. Poorly fed
animals are unable to cope with parasitism, and death losses are
often great. Parasitic disease problems increase with intensification
of production and lack of attention to strict sanitation.
• In general, parasites can be broken into two major categories:
internal parasites (endoparasites) and external parasites
(ectoparasites). Each parasite is then further classified into
additional groups according to their structure, growth, and life
cycles.
Internal Parasites
• Internal parasites may be divided into four (4)
classifications:
• Roundworms - (Nematodes)
• Tapeworms - (Cestodes)
• Flukes - (Trematodes)
• Protozoa - (Coccidia)
Roundworms - (Nematodes)
• The roundworms are by far the most economically
important internal parasites of goats. Flukes produce
damage of economic importance in some geographic
areas, while adult tapeworms are usually of minor
importance.
Roundworms - (Nematodes)
• Large stomach worm, barber pole worm, twisted worm - Haemonchus
• Hookworm - Bonostomum
• Whipworm - Trichuris
• Cooperia
• Strongyloides
Large stomach worm, barber pole worm,
twisted worm - Haemonchus
• Description: Internal parasite. Adults are
10 – 30 mm long. Males are shorter than
females and have an even, reddish color
and a bursa with an asymmetrical dorsal
lobe and barbed spicules. Females are
identified as barber’s pole worms because
their white ovaries are wound around their
red blood-filled intestine.
• Life Cycle: Eggs laid by adults in the
abomasum are passed in the feces and
hatch on the ground. On pasture they
undergo a typical series of molts, becoming
infective in about 4 – 6 days. Cattle then
ingest the larvae, beginning the infection.
Fertile adults appear in approximately 28
days, but it is important to note that signs of
the disease can appear sooner because
larvae and immature adults, as well as
fertile adults, suck blood.
Brown stomach worm - Ostertagia
• Description: Internal parasite. Before the
larval forms are ingested, their development in
the environment may have been arrested by
hypobiosis, a survival mechanism in which the
preparasitic stages on-pasture "avoid" adverse
summer and winter conditions. Ostertagia is
one of the most economically significant
parasites of cattle.
• Life Cycle: Adults in the abomasum lay eggs
that pass in feces. Once hatched, larvae
undergo two molds to become infective third-
stage larvae which migrate onto herbage and
are ingested by grazing cattle. Once ingested,
these parasitic larvae grow and molt twice
more to become egg-laying adults. The
prepatent period is 18-25 days, though
hypobiosis affects the process.
Stomach/intestinal hairworm, small stomach worm –
Trichostrongylus
• Description: The adult worm is small (0.5 centimeter long) and hair like.
• Predilection sites: Stomach glands, small intestine.
• Geographic distribution: Widespread in the US.
• Life cycle: Trichostrongylus axei has a direct life cycle typical of
nematodes. Larvae develop to infectivity on pasture in 4 to 6 days under
optimal conditions of temperature and humidity.
• Significance: The stomach hairworm is important primarily in contributing to
burdens of mixed worm species.
• Clinical effects on host: Trichostrongylus is usually part of a mixed
infection, so its results are additive. The hairworm irritates and erodes the
villi of the gut, damaging the capillaries and lymph vessels within these
structures and causing blood loss into the gut. Parasite-induced trauma to
the intestinal lining results in characteristic dark, foul-smelling diarrhea.
Blood loss can cause anemia, edema, and rapid loss of condition.
• Diagnosis: Larvae can be identified by fecal culture – the small egg is not
identifiable by species.
Thread-necked worm - Nematodirus
• Description: Internal parasite. Adults are up to 25 mm long.
• Life Cycle: Eggs develop slowly; the infective third stage is
reached within the egg in 2 – 4 weeks and may remain within
the egg for several months. Eggs are highly resistant, and
those passed by calves in one season can infect calves the
next. After ingestion of infective larvae, the adult stage is
reached in approximately 3 weeks.
• Geographic Distribution: Worldwide.
• Significance: Heavy infections of Nematodirus can lead to
decreased weight gain, particularly when other parasites are
present. Larval stages are primarily responsible for harming the
host animal. Large numbers of larvae can retard an animal’s
growth and even cause destruction of the intestinal wall.
Hookworm - Bonostomum
• Anterior end is bent toward its
back. The mouth is cup-shaped
and has two cutting plates.
Males are 12-17 mm long;
females are 19-26 mm
• Can cause anemia, edema, and
general unthriftiness. Symptoms
are generally similar to those of
the stomach worm. Adult worms
attach to the intestinal wall and
suck blood. Bleeding often
continues even after the parasite
is gone.
Nodular worm – Oesophagostomum
• Description: Internal parasite. Adult worms are stout bodied and 14
– 22 mm long.
• Life Cycle: Adults in the intestine lay eggs which are passed in
feces. Larvae pass through a series of molts and reach the infective
third stage in approximately 7 days. When ingested with herbage,
the larvae penetrate the wall of the host animal’s intestine, forming
nodules anywhere between the stomach and the rectum. After 5 – 7
days they return to the intestinal lumen and travel to the colon,
where they undergo a final molt and mature into adults. Eggs
appear in the feces about 41 days after the larvae are ingested.
• Geographic Distribution: Worldwide, particularly in wet, temperate
climates.
• Significance: Infective larvae burrow into the intestinal wall,
causing the formation of pea-sized nodules called granulomas.
Granulomas impair intestinal function, particularly fluid absorption.
The result is black, foul diarrhea which is very debilitating. The
disease oesophagostomiasis is characterized by anemia and
edema in addition to the explosive diarrhea. When worms are
present in large numbers. Young stock in particular are affected
seriously and can die.
Large-mouthed bowel worm – Chabertia
• General Description: Nematodes with a large oral
opening. Males are 13 to 14mm long, females, 17 to
20mm.
• Life Cycle: Direct life cycle. Infection by ingestion of
infective third stage larvae. Prepatent period is about 48 to
54 days.
• Location: Colon
• Geographical Distribution: Worldwide
• Significance: Chabertia is significant only in heavily
infected sheep. Reduced wool growth is the major result.
• Effect on Host: Adults ingest plugs of the bowel wall;
some bleeding may occur. The affected part of the
intestine is mildly irritated. Anaemia may occur when
severe infections exist. Replacement of tissue and blood
lost to parasites limits the energy the host may otherwise
use for wool growth. Occasional diarrhoea may be seen.
• Diagnostic Information: Strongyle-type eggs appear in
faeces.
• Control: Treatment of infected sheep with a suitable
anthelmintic.
Whipworm - Trichuris
• Description: Internal parasites. Long
roundworms; the anterior part is long and thin
while the posterior is much thicker, giving the
appearance of a whip. The male posterior is
curved.
• Life Cycle: Infective larvae develop within eggs
after at least 3 weeks on pasture. The eggs are
resistant to cold temperatures and dry conditions,
and can therefore remain infective for years.
Cattle become infected by ingesting embryonated
eggs. Adults develop in 1 – 3 months.
• Geographic Distribution: Widespread.
• Significance: The effects of whipworm infection
have not been determined, as affected animals
exhibit clinical signs only occasionally. Those that
do, experience typical "parasite worry“ and do not
feed or sleep well. Scratching may produce skin
wounds or bruises, and the coat becomes rough.
Infestations with biting lice are heaviest in winter
when cattle hair coats are thick.
Large lungworm - Dictyocaulus filaria
• White with a dark line running the full length of the worm.
Length of males are 3 to 8 cm and females range from 5 to 10
cm.
• Accumulation of adult worms and eggs can occur in the airways
and cause obstruction. This can cause the lung tissue to
collapse. Suffocation can then occur. Animals can show a
symptoms by coughing and having difficulty breathing.
Cooperia
The life cycle of Moniezia expansa involves sheep as the definitive host and soil mites
as the intermediate host. The tapeworm's eggs are passed in the sheep's feces, and
mites are infected when they eat the eggs; the metacestode stage in the mite is called a
cysticercoid. Sheep are infected when then ingest infected mites. This species of
tapeworm is unusual in that each proglottid contains two sets of female reproductive
organs
Fringed tapeworm - Thysanosoma actinioides
A severe
coccidiosis infection
in a small animal
Diagnosis of Internal Parasites
• Most of these infections can be detected using a fecal egg count. This is done by
collecting a fecal sample and sending it to a local veterinarian for fecal flotation.
• Lice - Damalinia
• Mites - Chorioptes, Psoroptes, Sarcoptes, Demodex
• Flies - Lucilia, Calliphora, Chrysomya
• Ked - Melophagus ovinus
• Ticks
• Nasal bot - Oestrus ovis
Lice - Damalinia
* These products are not labeled for use in sheep and goats. Their use in these animals is considered "extra-label."
References
• www.Infovets.com
• Texas 4-H Goat Guide