Seasonal prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes of beef calves grazed on irrigated pastures in the lower Sacramento Valley of California

Two worm-free calves were allowed to graze on irrigated pasture with a naturally infected herd for each of 34 one-month periods from November 1979 to August 1982. After each grazing period, the calves were transferred to a cement-floored pen for 3 weeks and then were euthanatized and necropsied. Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia oncophora were the most prevalent species of nematodes recovered. Adults and larvae of Ostertagia spp and Cooperia spp were most numerous in winter and spring and least numerous during summer. The proportions of Ostertagia spp that were inhibited as fourth-stage larvae increased in late fall, peaked from March through April, and then decreased to low values during summer. The maximal inhibition in 1980, 1981, and 1982 was 72, 65, and 62%, respectively. The number of larval Cooperia spp was highest in winter months and, except for one grazing period when 55% of the Cooperia spp were larvae, the total numbers represented less than 15% of the nematode population during all grazing periods. Other nematodes encountered were Trichostrongylus axei, Haemonchus spp, O lyrata, and O occidentalis in the abomasum; C surnabata, C punctata, Nematodirus helvetianus, T colubriformis, and Bunostomum phlebotomum in the small intestine; and Oesophagostomum venulosum and Trichuris ovis in the large intestine.     

Delayed resumption of development of inhibited Cooperia oncophora in a yearling calf.

During a study of larval inhibition, resumption of development of Cooperia oncophora was observed in one calf to occur over a prolonged period of time. This animal had grazed for 14 weeks, was treated with thiabendazole and stabled for eight weeks prior to grazing the same pasture for ten days in late fall. A marked increase in Cooperia egg output started about six months after restabling. Worm egg outputs persisted for about 14 months with counts of up to 1000 eggs per gram during the first eight months of this period followed by a period with low counts of 50 to 150 eggs per gram.     

The prophylactic effect of ivermectin treatment of calves, three weeks after turnout, on gastro-intestinal helminthiasis

In two grazing experiments carried out in 1982 and 1983 the prophylactic effect on gastro-intestinal helminthiasis of a single ivermectin treatment of calves 3 weeks after turnout was studied in animals which were turned out early on contaminated pasture and in calves which were turned out late on mown pasture. A single ivermectin treatment 3 weeks after early turnout did not prevent heavy helminth infections. However, such single treatment of calves 3 weeks after a late turnout on mown pasture appears to be a promising way of preventing heavy infections. Late turnout on mown pasture without anthelmintic treatment was not enough to prevent heavy infections. Ivermectin treatment was more effective against Ostertagia spp. than against Cooperia spp. There was no effect on the faecal egg output of Nematodirus helvetianus. Predominantly due to the dry summer, infections were lighter in 1983 than in 1982. These lower infections, and possibly also a delay in the onset of inhibition and differences in helminth strains, may explain the lower proportion of inhibited development in Ostertagia spp. in 1983 than in the comparable groups in 1982.     

The epizootiology of gastrointestinal nematodes of cattle in selected areas of Oregon.

A study was initiated to (1) determine species of gastrointestinal nematodes present in cattle in selected areas of Oregon, (2) examine seasonal abundance of these nematodes as an indicator of periods of transmission, and (3) determine when developmental inhibition occurs in the major genera of nematodes encountered. Four study sites were chosen: Corvallis, Langlois, near Fort Rock, and southeast of Klamath Falls on the Oregon-California border. Eight sets of three to four tracer calves each were introduced onto pasture at each site over a 2 year period with time of turn out onto pasture corresponding to late spring, mid-summer, late fall and late winter. At Corvallis, a distinct seasonality in parasite transmission was evident, peaking during the fall and winter. At Langlois, transmission was fairly constant throughout the year. No discernible patterns were evident at either Klamath Falls or Fort Rock. Eight nematode genera were found during the study. Ostertagia, Cooperia, Nematodirus and Trichostrongylus were present at all study sites and were the most common genera at each. Trichuris was found at all sites except Klamath Falls. Oesophagostomum was present in tracers only from Langlois and Corvallis while Haemonchus was found only at Klamath Falls and Fort Rock. Capillaria was only present at Klamath Falls. Where possible, specific transmission patterns for Nematodirus, Cooperia, and Ostertagia were determined for each site. Nematodirus was transmitted fairly steadily at both Langlois and Corvallis but was quite variable at Fort Rock. Developmental arrest was detected in this genus at all study sites during the fall and/or winter. Cooperia exhibited the most seasonally defined pattern of transmission, peaking during the fall and winter at Langlois, Corvallis and Klamath Falls. Hypobiotic larvae of Cooperia were present during the fall and/or winter only at Langlois and Corvallis. Peak transmission of Ostertagia at Langlois and Corvallis occurred during the fall and winter. At Fort Rock, transmission was lowest in the fall and increased in the winter. Hypobiotic larvae were evident in the fall and winter at Corvallis, Fort Rock and Klamath Falls. These data suggest Type II ostertagiasis may occur in late winter through spring in these areas. Hypobiotic larvae of Ostertagia were not detected at Langlois. The lack of appropriate environmental stimuli is one possible explanation for the apparent lack of hypobiosis at that site.     

Serological Studies of Parasite Cattle: I. Complement-Fixing Activity of Serial Serum Samples

Complement-fixation (CF) tests with sonicated aqueous extracts of adult forms of five species of gastrointestinal nematodes as antigens have been made on serial biweekly bleedings from two groups of parasitized calves grazing on infected pastures during the 1963 or 1964 seasons. Three of these nematode species, Cooperia oncophora, Ostertagia ostertagi and Nematodirus helvetianus, were found in large numbers in most of these animals. The calves were negative serologically before being placed on pasture but within 2 to 4 weeks some had developed considerable CF activity with Cooperia and other nematode antigens. Ten calves died, however, before significant CF titres had been attained. Eight control calves in the 1963 or 1964 groups which were grazed on “clean” pastures, remained serologically negative during the summer and autumn months. Four of the six surviving exposed animals in the 1964 group showed a fall in CF activity during the winter months when they were stabled, whereas the six surviving controls developed low CF titres suggesting that they were becoming mildly parasitized. In the spring of 1965 CF titres began to rise in some of the previously exposed and control yearlings even before they were placed on infected pasture in June.     

An assessment of residual ovine nematodes on pasture under maritime conditions.

Residual ovine nematode pasture infections were assessed by grazing groups of ewes and their lambs on permanent sheep and cattle pastures and by the use of tracer lambs. Ostertagia spp., Cooperia oncophora, Nematodirus spp., Chabertia ovina and Trichuris spp. eggs and/or larvae survived on pastures overwinter. Second generation Ostertagia larvae were present in greatest numbers on pasture during the latter part of August and early September. The failure of a significant build-up of Cooperia oncophora was attributed to negligible worm egg output of this species in sheep. A build-up of Nematodirus spp. on pasture was not detected in this study.     

Relative importance of winter survival of larval nematodes in pasture and infected carrier calves in a study of parasitic gastroenteritis in calves.

A study was done in Maine to determine the relative importance of winter survival of nematode larvae in pasture and infected carrier animals as sources of infection for susceptible calves. Under the conditions of the experiment, it appeared that winter survivals in pasture of the infective stages of the genera Ostertagia, Cooperia, Nematodirus, and Trichostrongylus were of greater importance than carrier animals as sources of infection for susceptible calves. While animals in plots infected the previous summer and simultaneously allowed to graze alongside infected carrier animals did show more worms than those grazed only in infected plots, these differences were not statistically significant. Both groups had significantly (P greater than 0.01) more worms than did calves grazed only with carrier animals for the period of the experiment (8 weeks). It was also observed that carrier calves with low fecal egg counts (less than 200 eggs/g of feces) introduced in early spring to uncontaminated pasture could produce enough parasitic contamination by early fall to cause fulminating infections in susceptible calves grazing the pasture at the same time. Infected animals that survived clinical disease during their 1st summer developed a strong immunity which limited their acquisition of further infections when they were exposed to severe pasture contamination the following year.     

The prophylactic effect of ivermectin treatments on gastrointestinal helminthiasis of calves turned out early on pasture or late on mown pasture

A study was undertaken to ascertain the prophylactic effect on gastrointestinal helminthiasis of (1) a single ivermectin treatment of calves 3 weeks after a late turnout on mown pasture and (2) two ivermectin treatments of calves 3 and 8 weeks after an early turnout. The single ivermectin treatment after a late turnout on mown pasture appeared to be an effective control measure for infections of Cooperia and, in particular, Ostertagia. The two treatments after an early turnout were also effective, although less so than the single treatment combined with the late turnout on mown pasture. Ivermectin treatment had no effect on the faecal egg output or the pasture larval counts of Nematodirus helvetianus. The proportion of inhibited early fourth stage larvae of Ostertagia was much higher in the control group than in either of the experimental groups.     

Dynamics of pasture contamination by gastrointestinal nematodes of cattle under extensive management systems: proposal for strategic control.

An epidemiological study of gastrointestinal nematode parasitism in beef cattle in mountainous areas of Spain was performed. The dynamics of contamination with gastrointestinal nematode larvae of Pyrenean pastures was studied over four years at five areas at different altitudes (900 m to 2100 m), grazed by animals according to traditional systems of beef cattle in mountainous areas. Grass samples were taken every two weeks and larval differentiation was performed. Worm egg counts of grazing animals were assessed in cows, heifers and calves. A consistent seasonal pattern of infective larvae on pasture through the study was observed. In hay meadows, located below 1000 m, infective larvae were found from the end of October until June of the following year. At higher altitudes (1200-2100 m), a bimodal pattern of pasture larvae contamination was observed with increases in late spring (March-June) and in late autumn (September-November). Ostertagia spp., Cooperia spp., Trichostrongylus spp., Oesophagostomum spp., and Nematodirus spp. were found, with Ostertagia spp. being the most frequently found, followed by Cooperia spp. The highest increase of larval contamination in autumn coincided with the grazing of animals in hay meadows. This elevated autumn larval population had a very important epidemiological role because these larvae remained as overwintered larvae until the following grazing season, starting the cycle of contamination of the animals.     

Epidemiological patterns of gastrointestinal and lung helminth infections in grazing calves in The Netherlands

The patterns of gastrointestinal and lung helminth infections in grazing calves were studied in two small grazing experiments carried out between May and October in 1985 and 1986, respectively, at Utrecht State University. For lungworm a very rapid translation of infective larvae was seen in both experiments, resulting in a rapid build-up of the worm burdens, and in July the second generation of Dictyocaulus caused husk. After the end of patency for lungworm, in the beginning of August, a rapid decrease in pasture infectivity, measured by pasture larval counts and worm counts of tracer calves, was observed. For the gastrointestinal nematodes the translation of infective larvae was much slower as a distinct 'midsummer increase' of pasture infectivity was not seen before the end of July. The worm counts of the tracer calves and the pasture larval counts showed that these larvae remained on pasture much longer than the lungworm larvae. As in Dictyocaulus, patency stopped in August-September in Nematodirus but not in Ostertagia and Cooperia, indicating a slower rate of development of immunity in both latter genera. In contrast to lungworm, the results indicate a clear and predictable seasonal pattern for gastrointestinal helminth infections.     

Efficacy of moxidectin against naturally acquired nematode infections in cattle.

The efficacy of moxidectin, a new endectocide against natural nematode infections, was evaluated. Twenty-five calves were divided into two groups of eight calves each and a third group of nine calves. Moxidectin was administered s.c. to two groups (I, 0.2 mg kg-1 body weight (BW); II, 0.3 mg kg-1 BW) and the third group (III) received the vehicle (placebo) s.c. Two pre-treatment and one post-treatment faecal nematode egg count determinations were made from all calves, and they were necropsied 2 weeks after treatment for the identification and enumeration of nematode parasites. Group III calves, which received the drug-free vehicle, harboured eight species of nematodes (Ostertagia ostertagi, Trichostrongylus axei, Cooperia oncophora, Cooperia punctata, Nematodirus helvetianus, Trichuris discolor, Oesophagostomum radiatum and Dictyocaulus viviparus). The mean total worm burden for this group was 8935. There was a significant reduction in the numbers of many species of nematodes (Ostertagia, Trichostrongylus, Cooperia and Nematodirus) in both treated groups. Cooperia oncophora was reduced by 94% in Group I and by 96% in Group II, while all other nematode species were reduced by 99%. Immature stages of Ostertagia and Nematodirus were significantly reduced in the two treated groups. Two weeks after treatment, the mean faecal egg counts of both treated groups were reduced by more than 98%. There was no significant difference in mean total worm burdens or egg counts between the two treated groups.     

Differences in susceptibility to gastrointestinal nematode infection between Angus and Brangus cattle in south Louisiana

Breed susceptibility to nematode infection was evaluated in Angus (Bos taurus) and Brangus (B. indicus crossbreed) cattle. A cow-calf herd and a yearling replacement heifer herd were monitored during one grazing season. Calves were born in March and were weaned in October. Individual rectal fecal samples were collected monthly from the two herds and processed for fecal egg counts (FEC) and coprocultures. Cow and calf FEC increased from April, reaching maximum values during the summer. Angus cows and calves had significantly (p<0.05) greater FEC than Brangus cows and calves, and Haemonchus and Cooperia were the predominant genera. Replacement heifer FEC showed a similar pattern with maximum levels during late summer/fall, and Haemonchus was the predominant genus. No significant differences were seen between breeds, however, infection levels were consistently lower in Brangus heifers. Ostertagia was present in cows and heifers only in fall/winter, which is consistent with summer inhibition. The data suggested that cows were an important source of pasture contamination for their susceptible calves and that the Brangus breed was relatively more resistant to infection. The use of B. indicus crossbreeds may help in alleviating reliance on chemical control by reducing the rate of pasture contamination and subsequent infection losses.     

The Effects of Anthelmintic Treatments on the Development of Gastrointestinal Parasitism in Calves

Fortnightly treatment of susceptible calves with 1-tetramisole during the first two months of continuous exposure to pastures residually heavily-infected with Ostertagia ostertagi, Cooperia oncophora and Nematodirus helvetianus did not prevent the development of clinical parasitic gastroenteritis, although the infections were not as severe as in nontreated calves. Development of resistance in treated calves was manifested by significantly smaller numbers of Cooperia eggs in utero (which were reflected by reduced fecal egg counts) and by significantly smaller Nematodirus worm burdens than in susceptible calves that commenced grazing coincident with cessation of treatment. The findings also indicated that resistance to Nematodirus helvetianus was slower in developing in treated than in nontreated infected calves.     

Epidemiological study of parasite infection in a cow-calf beef herd in Quebec.

The patterns of gastrointestinal and pulmonary nematode infections in a previously untreated Aberdeen Angus cow-calf herd were observed between May 1988 and December 1990. The cow-calf herd and replacement heifers were on separate pastures. The relatively high mean faecal egg counts of cows and heifers at the time of turnout were mainly owing to the maturation of hypobiotic worms. The strongyle egg counts of calves began to rise soon after turnout onto pasture and reached peak levels at the end of the grazing season. The number of infective larvae on pasture was highest during September/October. Ostertagia, Cooperia and Nematodirus were the most prevalent genera found at necropsy and on pasture. Larvae of these nematodes were able to overwinter on pasture and Ostertagia larvae, additionally, were able to overwinter in the host as arrested early fourth stage larvae. The high egg output of cows at the time of turnout may serve as a source of infection for their calves and be responsible for the late-season rise in pasture larval counts.     

Further tests of activity of levamisole on Ostertagia ostertagi in dairy calves with notes on overwinter survival of gastrointestinal helminths on pasture

Two controlled tests were conducted in 1981 and 1982 in dairy calves on the University of Kentucky research farm to determine activity of the bolus formulation of levamisole given at the dose rate of 8 mg/kg against naturally occurring infections of Ostertagia ostertagi. Removal efficacies of mature O ostertagi were 98% in the 1981 test (3 treated and 3 nontreated calves) and 94% in the 1982 test (7 treated and 8 nontreated calves). Against immature Ostertagia spp, removal efficacies were 100% and 65% for the 1st and 2nd tests, respectively. The calves were grazed on the same pasture as dairy calves in previous controlled tests in 1979 and 1980 where activity of levamisole against mature O ostertagi (data recently published) was much less than in the present tests. It does not appear that the poor performance in the early tests can be attributed to the drug resistance phenomenon. Data on overwinter survival (119 days) of free-living stages of gastrointestinal parasites on pasture were derived from the nontreated calves in the 1982 controlled test. The calves, raised helminth-free, were placed on the pasture on Apr 5, 1982. Helminths recovered at necropsy of the calves, besides O ostertagi, included Trichostrongylus axei, Nematodirus helvetianus, Nematodirus spp, Cooperia oncophora, Trichuris spp, and Moniezia spp. The lung-worm, Dictyocaulus viviparus, previously found in cattle on the farm, was not found in these calves.     

Efficacy of morantel sustained release bolus against gastrointestinal nematodes in first season grazing Holstein calves

The efficacy of the morantel sustained release bolus (MSRB) in reducing gastrointestinal parasitism in first season grazing calves was evaluated during the summer--autumn grazing seasons of 1982 and 1983 in western Oregon. Each of 38 calves (1982) and 40 calves (1983) were randomly assigned to either control or treatment groups which were given MSRB on the day of turnout onto pasture. Mean worm burdens from tracer calves grazed with treated animals in 1982 and 1983 showed overall reductions of 86.4% (P greater than 0.05) and 84.3% (P less than 0.01), respectively, compared to tracers grazed with controls. Ostertagia ostertagi, Cooperia oncophora and Nematodirus helvetianus were the primary nematodes collected at necropsy. Twelve full-season 1982 tracer animals (6 treated and 6 control) indicated an 88.1% (P less than 0.05) overall reduction in mean worm burdens. Mean fecal worm egg per gram (EPG) counts of treated animals reflected a reduction of 69% (P less than 0.05) in 1982 and 90% (P less than 0.05) in 1983. Autumn inhibition of O. ostertagi was observed. In the 1982 trial the control animals showed a slight mean weight gain advantage over the treated group from Day 84 until Day 160 (trial termination) when the mean difference was 7.9 kg. The final mean weight gain advantage of treated animals in 1983 was 13.5 kg (P less than 0.05). These trials demonstrated that the MSRB was an effective anthelmintic for reducing gastrointestinal parasitism in grazing calves and for decreasing pasture larval contamination.     

Strains of cattle parasites in the Netherlands with different propensities for inhibited development

A field study was undertaken of the possible differences in propensity for inhibited development in strains of cattle nematodes from two different locations in The Netherlands. In one location (Lelystad) the strains were thought to lack the ability for inhibited development as a result of environmental stimuli on the infective larvae, while in the other location (Utrecht) this ability was presumed to be present. The Lelystad strains were kept at the original location and were also transferred to a pasture in Utrecht, while the Utrecht strains remained in Utrecht. At both locations all permanent grazing calves showed high proportions of inhibited early fourth stage larvae of Ostertagia ostertagi, the proportion of the Utrecht strain being higher than the local and the transferred Lelystad strain. For Cooperia oncophora and Nematodirus helvetianus no clear differences between locations were observed in the permanently grazed calves. No inhibition occurred in tracer calves turned out in August in either location, but differences were seen among tracer calves turned out in October. The Lelystad strains, kept in Lelystad or transferred to Utrecht, showed no inhibition, while in the tracer calves grazed on pastures contaminated by the Utrecht strains a marked inhibition of O. ostertagi and N. helvetianus was observed. The Lelystad strains appear to lack the ability, possessed by the Utrecht strains, to inhibit their development in autumn in response to environmental stimuli.     

Gastrointestinal parasites in young cattle in Norway

Field experiments were carried out for three consecutive years to study the influence of gastrointestinal nematodes in young cattle during their first grazing season. Free-living stages of Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia oncophora were found to survive the winter in the pasture in sufficient numbers to cause reduced weight gain and clinical disease, including deaths, in the calves. The symptoms were most pronounced during the first half of the grazing season.The mean weight gain of calves on parasite-free pastures was 48.3, 15.5 and 31.2 kg above those on contaminated pastures during the 3 years.Calves grazing contaminated pasture from the spring onwards, treated with thiabendazole and moved to aftermath in July, showed significantly better weight gain during the last part of the grazing season than calves which remained on the same contaminated pasture. It was, however, suggested that the better grazing conditions were the main cause of the improved weight gain on aftermath.     

Overwintering of Bovine Gastrointestinal Nematodes in Southwestern Ontario

Several steers, reared in isolation until approximately six months of age, were placed on a small isolated enclosed pasture from late spring to late fall of 1970, 1971 and 1972. The pasture was left vacant and unused during the winters and early springs. The pasture had been used in previous years by cattle, and in the late spring of 1970 was grazed by cattle know to be passing gastrointestinal nematode eggs in their feces. The steers were slaughtered periodically, and the prevalence of nematode species in the abomasum, small intestine, and large intestine, was determined from random samples of up to 100 adult male worms from each segment. The following nematodes were found in the steers in 1971 and 1972 and survived winters on pasture: Ostertagia ostertagi, O. lyrata, Cooperia oncophora, C. mcmasteri, Nematodirus helvetianus and Trichuris discolor. Two nematodes Cooperia punctata and Bunostomum phlebotomum known to be present on pasture in 1970, since they were recovered from the steers in that year, were not found in the steers in 1971 and 1972.     

Efficacy of abamectin against natural infections of gastrointestinal nematodes and lungworm of cattle with special emphasis on inhibited, early fourth stage larvae of Ostertagia ostertagi.

The anthelmintic efficacy of abamectin (avermectin B1) was evaluated against gastrointestinal nematodes, including Ostertagia ostertagi inhibited larvae and lungworm, in yearling crossbred beef heifers during late spring. The calves were grazed on contaminated pasture for 10 weeks and then held under conditions free of nematode infection for 3 weeks prior to allotment and treatment on 5 June. Thirteen calves were randomly assigned to two groups of six by restricted randomization on body weights; the extra lightest calf was assigned to the non-treated control group. Group 1 calves were treated with abamectin at 200 micrograms kg-1 body weight by s.c. injection and Group 2 calves were not treated; all were killed at 14 days after treatment. Ostertagia ostertagi was present in all controls; arithmetic mean numbers of adults, developing fourth stage larvae (L4) and inhibited EL4 were 7683, 605 and 36,102, respectively. Other nematode genera present in controls in sufficient numbers for the experiment were Haemonchus placei adults, Trichostrongylus axei adults, Cooperia spp. adults, Oesophagostomum radiatum adults, Bunostomum phlebotomum adults, Dictyocaulus viviparus adults and E5 (immature adults). Abamectin was highly effective (consistently greater than 99% efficacy and P less than 0.05) in removing all nematodes present in treated calves as represented in non-treated controls, including the primary target of Ostertagia ostertagi inhibited EL4. The lowest efficacy was 93.8%, against D. viviparus E5.