Interactions between lungworms and gastrointestinal worms in calves

Interactions between gastrointestinal worms (Ostertagia ostertagi, Cooperia oncophora) and lungworms (Dictyocaulus viviparus) in calves were studied by assessing the effect of primary infections with either group of worms on the development of homologous or heterologous challenge infections. Primary infections with lungworms resulted in some degree of resistance to challenge with gastrointestinal worms, but this resistance was lower than that found after homologous infection. Primary infections with gastrointestinal worms did not confer any resistance to challenge with lungworms. On the contrary, an indication was found of some enhancing effect of previous gastrointestinal worm infection on the establishment of lungworms. The highest degree of resistance against lungworm challenge was found where calves have been primarily infected with lungworms. Lungworm infections produced some elevation of serum pepsinogen levels. Gastrointestinal worms evoked a rise in circulating eosinophils, although this rise was smaller and occurred later than in lungworm-infected calves. Under the conditions of the experiment, the effect of 6000 infective lungworm larvae on weight gain was larger than the effect of 100,000 L3 of Ostertagia ostertagi and 100,000 L3 of Cooperia oncophora.     

Ivermectin: controlled test of anthelmintic activity in dairy calves with emphasis on Dictyocaulus viviparus

Twelve dairy calves, naturally infected with lungworms and gastrointestinal parasites, were selected for a controlled test with single doses of ivermectin, administered subcutaneously, at the dose rate of 200 micrograms/kg. Specific interest was on efficacy of ivermectin against lungworms (Dictyocaulus viviparus), with ancillary interest directed on abomasal parasites. Ivermectin was administered to 6 calves, and the vehicle only, to 6 calves. At necropsy, 7 days after treatment, lungworms were not recovered from any of the treated calves; nontreated calves, given the vehicle only, were infected with 1 to 46 lungworms each. Removal efficacy against adult Ostertagia ostertagi was 99%. Fourth-stage Ostertagia spp and Trichostrongylus spp and mature Trichostrongylus axei, present in low numbers, were all removed. The fecal egg count for gastrointestinal parasites indicated all eggs, except for a few Nematodirus eggs, were cleared from treated calves. One treated calf showed signs of irritation of the neck at injection site for a short time after treatment and 1 treated calf had a slight indurated area at injection site at necropsy.     

Increased establishment of lungworms after exposure to a combined infection of Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia oncophora

Three-month-old calves were infected three times weekly during a 5-week period with Cooperia oncophora, Ostertagia ostertagi or a combination of these two species. For each type of infection two dose levels were applied. In addition one group of calves was kept uninfected. After removal of the primary infection by anthelmintic treatment all calves were challenged with lungworm larvae and slaughtered 5 weeks later. The groups receiving either C. oncophora or O. ostertagi as a monospecific infection did not differ from the na?ve controls. The group receiving the combination of both species differed significantly from the other groups, the establishment of the lungworms being 177%, and the faecal excretion of larvae being 325% of that of the other groups.     

Strategic control of gastrointestinal nematode and lungworm infections with eprinomectin at turnout and eight weeks later.

Two groups of 10 first-year grazing cattle were either left untreated as controls (group 1) or treated with eprinomectin as a pour-on application at turnout and eight weeks later (group 2). The control group developed a mild infection with gastrointestinal nematodes and lungworms during the season, whereas the treated animals remained healthy. The interval between the treatments allowed the establishment of adult worms, but the egg counts remained negligible. The total number of eggs shed by the treated cattle during the grazing season was significantly smaller than by the controls.     

The combined effect of fenbendazole treatment and a move to aftermath 7 or 9 weeks after turnout on Dictyocaulus viviparus infections in calves

A grazing study was performed with the main objective of examining the effect of fenbendazole (FBZ) in a ‘dose and move’ system on nematode infections in calves with special emphasis on Dictyocaulus viviparus.

Three groups of six calves were grazed from May to October 1993. One group (DM7) was treated with FBZ and moved to aftermath (pasture which had only been mown) 7 weeks after turnout. The second group (DM9) was similarly treated and moved 9 weeks after turnout and the third group served as untreated pasture control group (PC) and was moved to aftermath 9 weeks after turnout.

FBZ treatment removed adult lungworms from DM7 and DM9. Tracer calves grazed during the first 7 or the first 9 weeks after turnout acquired mean burdens of 18 and 125 lungworms, respectively. In PC faecal larval counts increased until the end of August. Most of the animals in this group were then suffering from lungworm disease and emergency treatment with ivermectin was given. In both FBZ-treated groups, larvae reappeared in the faeces of some of the calves 4–5 weeks after treatment. Subsequent reinfection resulted in higher mean faecal larval counts in both groups 2 months after treatment, although variation in faecal larval counts was high. In DM7 values tended to be higher than in DM9. These higher larval counts were associated with mild signs of parasitic bronchitis in some calves of DM7, whereas no signs were seen in DM9.

At the end of the experiment, all calves, and also a group of six permanently housed non-infected control calves (HC), were infected experimentally with 5000 D. viviparus larvae to evaluate development of immunity. The worm counts at necropsy showed that all calves on pasture had developed immunity.     

Overwintering of larvae of the cattle lungworm (Dictyocaulus viviparus) on pasture in Kentucky

Seventeen dairy calves, raised lungworm-free, were used in an experiment to determine whether lungworm (Dictyocaulus viviparus) larvae survived on a pasture in central Kentucky during the winter of 1979/1980. On Apr 22, 1980, the calves were placed on pasture. Three calves were put on pasture A, on which no cattle had grazed for over 20 years. Fourteen calves were put on pasture B, which had been vacant since Dec 12, 1979 (132 days before beginning of experiment), when several lungworm-infected calves had been removed from the pasture. Fecal samples from the 17 calves were examined for lungworm larvae at weekly intervals for about 6 weeks; lungworm larvae were not found in any of the 3 calves on pasture A, but were found in 12 of 14 (86%) calves on pasture B. One calf from pasture A and 3 calves from pasture B were euthanatized 37 days after being placed on pasture; lungworms were recovered from 1 calf from pasture B.     

Reindeer as hosts for nematode parasites of sheep and cattle

The reindeer husbandry range of Scandinavia overlaps with sheep, goat, and cattle pastures. The aim of this study was to determine whether reindeer are suitable hosts for ovine or bovine nematode parasites, and thus may spread these parasites into the reindeer husbandry regions. To render worm-free, twelve 4-month-old male reindeer calves, six lambs, and six bovine calves were given ivermectin at 200 microg/kg body weight. Five weeks post-treatment, six reindeer calves were each artificially dosed with 10,000 third-stage larvae (L3) of gastrointestinal nematodes derived from sheep, and an additional six reindeer with L3 derived from cattle. Lambs and bovine calves received the same dose of ovine and bovine larvae as reindeer, from the same larval source, respectively. Faecal samples collected on five occasions after the larval dosing revealed that by the fourth week, all reindeer calves, lambs, and bovine calves were infected. Animals were slaughtered on days 40 (reindeer) or 47 (lambs and bovine calves) after the larval dosing. Reindeer calves were most susceptible to L3 derived from sheep. The overall mean intensity of Haemochus contortus, Trichostrongylus axei, and Teladorsagia circumcincta, did not differ between reindeer and sheep; however, early fourth-stage larvae of H. contortus were more abundant in reindeer (p = 0.002). The establishment of bovine-derived Ostertagia ostertagi was similar in reindeer (62%) and bovine calves (57%), but larval inhibition was much higher in reindeer (91%, p < 0.001) than in cattle (31%). Very poor establishment of bovine derived Cooperia oncophora was recorded in reindeer calves (2%) compared with bovine calves (59%). These results show that young reindeer are susceptible hosts to the important gastrointestinal parasites of sheep (T. circumcincta, H. contortus) and cattle (O. ostertagi), as well as being a suitable host for T. axei.     

Controlled test of anthelmintic activity of levamisole administered to calves via drinking water, subcutaneous injection, or alfalfa pellet premix.

A controlled test of the activity of 3 formulations of levamisole, at the dose level of approximately 8 mg/kg, against naturally occurring infections of gastrointestinal parasites and lungworms was made in 24 calves allotted to 4 groups of 6 calves each. Levamisole was administered to group I calves in the drinking water, to group II calves by subcutaneous injection, and to Group III calves by feeding alfalfa pellets mixed in corn silage; group IV calves were nontreated controls. Group I calves consumed the medicated water between 4 hours and 20 minutes and 9 hours and 40 minutes; group III calves consumed the medicated feed within 2 hours and 15 minutes. For calves of group I, II, and III, removals of 4th-stage Ostertagia sp were 64, 23, and 0%; of mature Ostertagia ostertagi, 90, 93, and 83%; and of mature Trichostrongylus axei, 92, 99, and 92%, respectively. For all 3 treated groups of calves, removal was 100% for 4th-stage Cooperia sp and for mature Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Cooperia oncophora, Cooperia punctata, and Oesophagostomum radiatum. Removals of Dictyocaulus vivipara were 90, 90, and 94% for calves of groups I, II, and III, respectively. There was no evidence of toxicosis. At necropsy, 2 calves in group II had small areas of edema at the sites of injection of levamisole.     

Comparison of the efficacy of dermal formulations of ivermectin and levamisole for the treatment and prevention of Dictyocaulus viviparus infection in cattle

Four groups of six parasite-naive calves were infected at seven day intervals with three doses of infective larvae of Dictyocaulus viviparus. Twenty-one days after the first dose three of the groups were treated either with an injectable formulation of ivermectin at a dose rate of 200 micrograms/kg bodyweight, or with pour-on preparations of levamisole at 10 mg/kg or ivermectin at 500 micrograms/kg. On day 28 two calves from each group were slaughtered and their burdens of lungworms counted. On day 35 the remaining calves were reinfected with D viviparus infective larvae at a rate of 80 L3/kg. The levamisole preparation was 94.6 per cent effective and both ivermectin preparations were 100 per cent effective against the initial infections. The ivermectin-treated calves were protected from the reinfection which subsequently became patent in the levamisole-treated and control calves.     

Calf morbidity,mortality and parasite prevalences in the cotton zone of Burkina Faso

The objective of this study is to describe morbidity and mortality in calves <1-year-old and to associate the impact of gastrointestinal and haemoparasitoses on morbidity and mortality by comparing these parameters in ill and well calves in the cotton zone of Burkina Faso. Fifty-nine herds selected in two villages were involved. Calves born between February 1997 and February 1999 were monitored up to 1 year of age or until the end of the study in April 1999. Blood and faecal samples were taken from ill calves and matched with samples taken from well calves (as control) for analysis of haemoparasites and gastrointestinal worms. Infected ill calves were treated with a trypanocidal drug and/or an anthelmintic. Dead calves were necropsied; adult-worm burdens were determined and brain smears taken to detect the presence of Cowdria ruminantium. Diarrhoea was the main clinical observation and most calves shed worm eggs. The EPG for gastrointestinal parasites was higher neither in ill calves nor in diarrhoeal calves. Infections by trypanosome species were observed in ill calves only (prevalences of 8% and 15% in Daboura and Kourouma, respectively). Average PCV in infected calves (28%) was lower than that in non-infected calves (37%). Most ill calves (86%) recovered 2 weeks after the treatment with anthelmintic and/or trypanocide. The post-mortem worm counting in 12 calves revealed that half of necropsied calves had a burden ranging from 2040 to 20,072 helminths. Infection by Babesia bigemina was found in the blood smear of one ill calf and the presence of C. ruminantium was noted in the brain smear of one calf.     

On the Development of Gastrointestinal Parasitism in Bovine Yearlings

A comparative study on the development of Osteragia Ostertagi, Cooperia oncophora and Nematodirus helvetianus in 15-month-old yearlings and three-month-old calves demonstrated that yearlings have considerably greater resistance to gastrointestinal parasitism than calves. This was manifested by the establishment of smaller worm burdens, marked stunting of worms and a markedly lower worm egg output in the yearlings. The characteristic marked rise in egg counts observed in calves a few weeks after exposure to a heavy gastro-intestinal parasite infection did not occur in the yearlings. It was concluded that fecal examinations have a limited usefulness as a reliable aid to diagnosis of gastrointestinal parasitism in older cattle.     

The effect of treatment with eprinomectin on lungworms at early patency on the development of immunity in young cattle

An experiment was carried out to study the effect of topical application of eprinomectin at early patency on the build up of infection and development of protection against Dictyocaulus viviparus in young cattle. Three groups of six calves were used and parasitological and blood variables were monitored at weekly intervals throughout the trial. At the start of the experiment calves in groups A and B were experimentally inoculated with 100 D. viviparus infective third-stage larvae (L3) for five consecutive days, whereas calves in group C served as uninfected controls. The calves in group A were each treated with eprinomectin (0.5mg/kg bodyweight) in a pour-on formulation at early patency at day 24 post the first inoculation, whereas the calves in groups B and C were left untreated. Seven weeks following anthelmintic treatment all groups were challenged with 1500 L3. Another 4 weeks later the animals were sacrificed and established worms in the lungs were counted. Moderate transient signs of lungworm disease occurred both in groups A and B. However, group B calves were found to be about 8 times more resistant than those in group A, whereas the naive infection controls in Group C was found to be about 35 times more susceptible to infection. Also the ELISA values showed that the course of infection was different between experimental groups. The eosinophil counts prior to and at the time of slaughter indicate that immunity was involved in the protection and the response was correlated with previous exposure and worm load. Weight gains differed significantly, but only between groups A and C and between groups B and C that on an average were approximately 13kg heavier at the termination of the experiment. It was concluded that eprinomectin was effective against established adult lungworms. However, the untreated calves (group B) developed a more marked resistance to lungworms compared to those that were subjected to anthelmintic treatment at early patency (group A). On the other hand, the cumulative number of excreted larvae was on an average 43 times higher in group B as compared to group A. Consequently, infected calves that remain out on pasture should be treated. This will restrain transmission of the parasite despite the fact that immunity is deteriorated.     

Prophylactic efficacy of an ivermectin sustained-release bolus against challenge exposure with gastrointestinal and pulmonary nematode infective larvae in calves

Twelve Holstein calves were used to determine the prophylactic efficacy of ivermectin against challenge exposure with gastrointestinal and pulmonary nematodes. Two groups of 6 calves (mean body weight, 205 kg) each were formed by restricted randomization according to body weight. Group-1 calves served as nonmedicated controls. Each calf of group 2 was orally given one prototype sustained-release bolus designed to deliver ivermectin at a continuous daily dose of 8 mg. Third-stage nematode infective larvae were given to the calves on posttreatment days 28 and 42. The calves were euthanatized 77 or 78 days after treatment. Ivermectin was 100% effective (P less than 0.05) in preventing the establishment of infection by Haemonchus placei, Ostertagia ostertagi, Cooperia spp (C punctata, C oncophora, C surnabada), Nematodirus helvetianus, Oesophagostomum radiatum, and Dictyocaulus viviparus and was greater than 99% effective against Trichostrongylus axei. Incidental infection by Trichuris spp was reduced by 94% (P = 0.08).     

Seroprevalence of Dictyocaulus viviparus in first grazing season calves in Sweden

A serological survey was carried out to determine the prevalence and geographical distribution of Dictyocaulus viviparus in calves after their first grazing season in Sweden. A total of 754 animals from 76 randomly selected herds in seven geographical regions were examined between September 24 and December 19, 2001. To get an indication about the geographical distribution of the infection 41 herds with beef-suckler calves were investigated. On each farm, blood was collected from 8 to 10 animals after an average of 26 +/- 24 days post-housing to determine specific IgG1 levels against a possible lungworm sperm antigen that is highly specific against patent infections of D. viviparus. We also investigated the seroprevalence of lungworm infection in relation to cattle management. In one region additional samples were analysed from 35 herds either with: (a) beef-suckling calves that were dewormed at housing, (b) untreated organically raised dairy calves, and finally from conventionally raised dairy calves either, (c) with or, (d) without a prophylactic anthelmintic treatment programme against gastrointestinal parasites on pasture. A questionnaire was used to obtain information about herd size and management, including measures to control nematode parasites on the farm. A total of 86 (11.8%) out of 754 animals had antibodies against D. viviparus, and at least one infected individual was detected in 30 (39.5%) of the 76 herds examined. Lungworm infected animals were found throughout the country and there was no significant differences between regions, although in southern and southwestern Sweden 70.0% of the herds were infected. Furthermore, there were no major differences in the seroprevalence in relation to management. Between 40.0 and 44.4% of the herds were infected irrespective of management, with the exception of calves from organic herds where no seropositive samples were found (0%). This result is in contrast to previous findings of lungworms in Sweden, and indicates that the parasite status on organic farms is diverse.     

Antibody Response in Calves Following Administration of Attenuated Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) Vaccines

The serum antibody response of calves vaccinated against infectious bovine rhinotracheitis by the intramuscular route was compared to calves vaccinated subcutaneously. Immunological response in the calves as determined by serum neutralization tests was highly variable; however, a significantly greater percentage (87.5%) of the calves inoculated subcutaneously responded to vaccination by producing a four-week post-vaccinal serum titer of two or higher as compared to only 47.8% of the calves that were vaccinated intramuscularly. Of those calves that were vaccinated a second time, all maintained or had produced titers of two or higher within four weeks after the second immunization. However, the existing circulating serum antibody titers resulting from the first vaccination of nine of 22 calves were lowered by repeat vaccination.     

Angiotensin-converting-enzyme activity in serum from calves infected continuously or with a single dose of Dictyocaulus viviparus infective larvae

The activity of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in calves was monitored during two different regimens of lungworm infection. These different regimens were clearly reflected in the course of the respiratory rate, faecal larval output and liveweight gains, but not in the course of the ACE activity. It is concluded that ACE activity is significantly (P less than 0.05) decreased in calves experimentally infected with lungworms, but that it does not give additional information about the course of the infection, which also could not be obtained from the other parameters.     

Observations on the epidemiology of Dictyocaulus viviparus in north west England

A five year ley pasture was used as a source of natural infection with Dictyocaulus viviparus for cattle in anthelmintic trials. Pasture larval counts, faecal larval counts of permanently grazing calves and lungworm burdens harboured by tracer calves were monitored in three grazing seasons to assess the pattern of infection. Carrier calves were introduced at the beginning of the grazing season in the first two years of the study but not in the third. In the fourth year the pasture was subdivided into two paddocks where overwintered infection with and without carrier infection were compared. A control paddock exposed to carrier infection but no overwintered infection was also monitored. Pasture larvae survived the winter but carrier infection appeared to make a larger contribution to pasture larval counts and the onset of parasitic bronchitis in susceptible calves. In the absence of grazing cattle at the end of the grazing season the concentration of D viviparus larvae on the herbage fell rapidly to undetectable levels. Discrepancies between contamination of herbage by infective D viviparus larvae and infectivity of pasture for susceptible cattle occurred in all years but were particularly marked on the third year when natural immunity appeared to influence the number of lungworms accumulating in tracer calves. Failure to recover lung worms from tracer calves cannot be regarded as an accurate indication of lungworm free pasture. In the first three years the proportion of the lungworm population which was inhibited in tracer calves was higher early and late in the grazing season and negligible in mid season. This suggests that a predisposition to inhibition in larvae which have overwintered on pasture may influence the time of onset of parasitic bronchitis in the next grazing season, but results from the fourth year did not support this hypothesis.     

Cow-calf herds in eastern Germany: status quo of some parasite species and a comparison of chemoprophylaxis and pasture management in the control of gastrointestinal nematodes.

Infections with gastrointestinal parasites (Eimeria spp., Cryptosporidium spp., Buxtonella sulcata, Fasciola hepatica, Moniezia spp. and trichostrongyles) and lungworms were monitored in five cow-calf herds in the north German lowlands. Estimated prevalences of infections with Eimeria spp. (predominantly Eimeria bovis) ranged between approximately 2 and 48%. The highest prevalences were found during late summer and autumn. On one farm Cryptosporidium spp. were detected in July and August (prevalence: 8.5 +/- 2.7% and 6.7 < 2.0%). The latter finding coincided with diarrhoea in many calves. Buxtonella sulcata was found during the entire study period in highly variable estimated prevalences ranging between zero and 73%, but without any obvious association with clinical disease. Fasciola hepatica was detected on four out of five farms at estimated prevalences of approximately 1-20%. Lungworm infections played a minor role in at least three of five study herds. The estimated prevalence of trichostrongyle infections rose from August until November whereas the intensity of infection did not change significantly. No difference in the intensity of infection could be detected between one farm on which infections with gastrointestinal nematodes were controlled only by moving the animals to an uninfected pasture in July, and three other herds on which strategic anthelmintic control was in place.     

Induction of protective immunity to Dictyocaulus viviparus in calves while under treatment with endectocides

Three groups of five parasite-naive calves were used. The treatments were: (a) Group 1 calves were weighed on Day 0 and injected with doramectin at 200 microg/kg. From Day 1 to 19 they were dosed orally with 2000 infective larvae of Dictyocaulus viviparus. On Day 28 they were again injected with doramectin, and infected with D. viviparus larvae from Days 33 to 41. They were then left untreated until Day 81 when they were infected with 20 infective larvae of D. viviparus per kg body weight. They were killed on Day 110 and lungworms were counted; (b) Group 2 calves were immunised with oral lungworm vaccine on Days 0 and 28, and infected and slaughtered as Group 1 on Days 81 and 110, respectively; (c) Group 3 calves acted as infection controls. Blood samples were taken at Days 0, 21, 49, 77 and 110 for antibody tests to D. viviparus. At autopsy there were no significant differences between the number of lungworms from Groups 1 and 2 (Means 17.4 and 31.3, respectively); Group 1 had significantly less value than Group 3 (Mean 228) (p < 0.05). Increased antibody titres to the larval sheath of the infective larvae were observed from Groups 1 and 2, showing that the larvae in Group 1 had penetrated the intestine before being killed by the circulating anthelmintic. This experiment shows that if calves are exposed to infective larvae while under systemic endectocide cover, an immune reaction is stimulated.     

Field evaluation of a method for the chemoprophylaxis of parasitic bronchitis in calves

Studies on the epidemiology of Dictyocaulus viviparus infections in Denmark have suggested that the adult lungworms present in calves around the sixth week after turnout play an important role in determining the subsequent pattern of disease. This trial was designed to test whether prophylactic treatment at this time would control disease in calves kept under British conditions. Thirty autumn-born Friesian or Friesian-cross bull calves were allowed to graze the whole of a 5 hectare field for six weeks after turnout. The field was then divided into two and the calves split into matching groups, one group being put into each of the paddocks. One group was treated with levamisole at this time and again two weeks later while the other was kept as an untreated control. Anthelmintic treatment resulted in a marked reduction in larval excretion and considerably delayed the build-up of infection on pasture. This in turn delayed the onset and reduced the severity of clinical signs in the treated group. However, as disease was not eliminated completely this prophylactic programme cannot be recommended to the British farmer in its present form. These findings are discussed in the context of the yet incomplete knowledge of the epidemiology of parasitic bronchitis.