The efficacy of fenbendazole and albendazole against the lungworm Muellerius capillaris in goats

In five trials it was found that the daily administration of fenbendazole in the food for 1 or 2 weeks at dosages of 1.25, 2.5 or 5 mg kg-1 live weight was highly effective against Muellerius capillaris infection in goats. Treated animals had significantly lower numbers of larvae in the faeces for up to 223 days after treatment. There was no obvious difference between the different dose levels. Daily treatment for 2 weeks seemed to be slightly more effective than treatment for 1 week. Treatment for 1 week twice with an intervening period of 1 week seemed to be more effective than treatment for 2 weeks continuously. Goats given a single treatment with fenbendazole at 25 mg kg-1 had a significantly lower number of M. capillaris larvae in their faeces on Days 34 and 69 after treatment than the controls, but on Days 126 and 156 after treatment there was no significant difference between these two groups. Albendazole given daily for 2 weeks at a dose of 1.0 mg kg-1 showed a significant effect for up to 153 days after treatment, which was similar to the result of daily treatment with 1.25 mg kg-1 fenbendazole. Goats treated with albendazole twice at 10 mg kg-1 with a 1 week interval showed a significant reduction in the number of Muellerius larvae in the faeces on Day 41 after treatment, but not on Days 97 and 153 after treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Investigations on theTetranychus urticae Complex in North West Europe(Acari: Tetranychidae)

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Serological (Em2-ELISA) and parasitological examinations of fox populations for Echinococcus multilocularis infections

Serum or body fluid samples of 1,006 foxes were investigated in an ELISA for antibodies against a highly sensitive and specific antigen (Em2-antigen) of Echinococcus multilocularis. Parasitological examinations of the intestines and simultaneous serological examinations were carried out in 505 foxes: A group of 98 blue foxes (Alopex lagopus) from Norwegian fox farms did not contain intestinal stages of E. multilocularis and was clearly sero-negative in Em2-ELISA. On the other hand in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) originating from European areas known to be endemic for E. multilocularis the following average prevalence rates were found: 244 foxes from Southern Germany, E. multilocularis prevalence 55% and sero-prevalence 60%; 139 foxes from Austria, E. multilocularis prevalence 4% and sero-prevalence 12%. Serological identification of individual foxes with or without intestinal E. multilocularis infection was not possible. Only serological (no parasitological) examination in 402 foxes originating from endemic areas in Switzerland resulted in a sero-prevalence rate of 37%. Sero-prevalence was only 6% and 4% in 54 and 26 other foxes, respectively, originating from Swiss and German areas where E. multilocularis has not yet been reported. Negative control Norwegian (farmed) silver foxes (n = 43) were all sero-negative. The specificity of the Em2-ELISA was confirmed by negative Em2-serologies with sera from dogs infected with intestinal and tissue dwelling helminth species (with the exception of two from 24 dogs infected with E. granulosus).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Differentiation of Eimeria species infecting sheep during the grazing season on permanent and new pastures under Norwegian conditions

The total and differential oocyst counts of the different Eimeria species in the faeces of Norwegian ewes and lambs were investigated at weekly intervals during the grazing period on permanent and new pastures. The total oocyst counts of lambs on permanent pastures were significantly higher than those on new pastures 3–6 weeks after the beginning of the grazing period. This demonstrates that the oocysts had survived the winter in the pasture.Species differentiation indicated that E. ahsata, E. arlongi, E. crandallis, E. ninakohlyakimovae, E. faurei and E. parva are able to survive the winter in the pasture. E. crandallis occurred in the greatest numbers, and this species might be an important contributor to the clinical symptoms which are frequently observed in Norwegian lambs about 2–3 weeks after the beginning of the grazing period. There were on the other hand, indications that E. pallida has little ability to survive the winter in the pasture. The results were generally similar for most of the species during 2 successive years.The total number of oocysts in the faeces of ewes was low on new as well as on permanent pastures, and the species differentiation showed negligible differences. Consequently, it was concluded that the ewes could not be the source of the high oocyst numbers in lambs on the permanent pastures.     

Efficacy of toltrazuril in the prevention of coccidiosis in naturally infected lambs on pasture

The efficacy of toltrazuril (Bay Vi 9142) in preventing ovine coccidiosis due to an infection acquired immediately after turnout on pasture was evaluated by comparing the faecal consistency, weight gain, and oocyst output of treated and untreated lambs in 3 trials. The lambs were either given a single treatment with toltrazuril at 15 or 20 mg/kg, or they were given a dose of 10 mg/kg on 2 separate days. A single treatment with toltrazuril at 20 mg/kg on day 10 after turnout on pasture almost completely prevented coccidiosis in 2 trials. In a third trial the acute phase of a severe Nematodirus battus infection coincided with the outbreak of coccidiosis, and thus partly masked the clinical effect of the anticoccidial treatment. In lambs treated with toltrazuril at 15 mg/kg on day 10 after turnout, the coccidial infection caused a softening of the faeces, but the lambs were not severely affected by the coccidia. In lambs given a dose of 10 mg/kg of toltrazuril twice, either on days 10 and 11 after turnout, or on days 10 and 20, the coccidial infection caused a softening af the faeces, including some cases of diarrhoea. Oocyst production due to the initial coccidial infection on pasture was markedly reduced by all treatments with toltrazuril. The reduction was most pronounced after a dose of 20 mg/kg. Lambs treated with single doses of 15 or 20 mg/kg of toltrazuril had a better weight gain than the untreated controls in 2 of the trials. Lambs treated with toltrazuril on day 10 after turnout were partially resistant to the coccidial reinfection acquired immediately after treatment, and they had a similar level of immunity as the untreated controls to the subsequent reinfection on pasture.     

The survival of nematodes and cestodes of sheep in the pasture during the winter in eastern Norway

Using 21 worm-free lambs in paddocks on old sheep pastures on 4 farms near Oslo, it was found that Nematodirus spp., Ostertagia spp. and Moniezia spp. were the only helminths which could survive the winter in the pasture in great numbers. A few Teladorsagia davtiani, Chabertia ovina, Trichuris ovis, Cooperia onchophora and Skrjabinema ovis survived the winter. Trichostrongylus axei, T. vitrinus and Oesophagostomum venulosnm showed a negligible ability to survive the winter in the pasture. The following species were never found to survive: Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Bunostomum trigonocephalum, Cooperia curticei and Strongyloides papillosus.     

Morbidity of purebred dogs in Denmark

Prevalences of diseases in purebred dogs are reported from a questionnaire study among members of the Danish Kennel Club (DKC) in 1997. The 4295 dogs in the study represented 24 breeds and 16 breed groups. Sixty percent of the dogs had at least one disease-event during their lifetime with a median of 2 and a maximum of 11. Diseases of the skin were the most-frequent (13.6%) followed by eye diseases (13.2%), accidents (12.6%) and diseases of the ear (12.6%). The prevalences of five diseases differed significantly between the breeds (diseases of the skin, eyes, ears, respiratory and skeletal systems). Males had significantly higher prevalences of respiratory diseases, skeletal diseases and diseases of the mouth and teeth. Tumours and diseases of the urinary system were most prevalent in females. Gender- and breed-specific prevalences are reported for the most-frequent diseases.     

Risk factors associated with interdog aggression and shooting phobias among purebred dogs in Denmark

The prevalence of behaviour problems is reported from a questionnaire study among members of the Danish Kennel Club (DKC). In total, 4359 dog owners were included in the analyses. With logistic regression, we analysed four behaviour problems: dominance towards the owner, interdog dominance aggression, separation anxiety and shooting phobia. Compared to Labrador Retrievers, the following breeds and breed groups had higher odds of being reported to have interdog dominance aggression: Belgian Sheepdogs, Dachshunds, Dalmatians, German Shepherds, Hovawarts, Pinschers, Rottweilers, Scent dogs and Spitz dogs. Poodles, retrieving/flushing dogs, Sheepdogs, Spitz dogs and terriers had higher odds of shooting phobia. The odds of interdog dominance aggression were higher among dogs owned by younger dog owners compared to dogs owned by older dog owners. Dogs living in the capital area of Copenhagen had increased odds of interdog dominance aggression as compared to dogs living in other parts of Denmark. Dogs belonging to owners with limited knowledge of the breed before acquiring the dog had higher odds of interdog dominance aggression. Dogs attending obedience training classes had reduced odds of shooting phobia. Dogs belonging to dog breeders had reduced odds of being reported to have the investigated behaviour problems.     

Plasma Cortisol and Behaviour in Early Weaned Piglets

Comparisons were made of Cortisol concentration and behavioural activity between piglets weaned at 3 weeks of age (early weaned piglets), and piglets weaned at 8 weeks of age (control piglets). Early weaned littermates were placed in cages with a floor area of either 0.20 m² per piglet or 0.15 m² per piglet. At 8 weeks of age, the piglets in the control litters were moved from the sow and early weaned piglets were moved from the cages. All litters were placed in pens, 1 pen for each litter. Radioimmunoassay was used for plasma Cortisol determination. Behavioural activity included determination of play, aggressive behaviour and non-nutritive oral activity. Statistical analysis for possible association between plasma Cortisol concentration and age, housing conditions, litter and sequence of capture of littermates for blood collection revealed a complex pattern. Generally, higher plasma Cortisol concentrations and more aggressive and non-nutritive oral activity, but less playing activity, were associated with early weaning. Plasma Cortisol concentration in individual piglets was positively correlated to both aggressive and non-nutritive oral behaviour, but was negatively correlated to playing behaviour. It is concluded that early weaning is a stressor.     

Effect of ovine urine and some of its components on viability of nematode eggs and larvae in sheep faeces

Sheep faeces incubated for 7 days at 27 degrees C for cultivation of third-stage nematode larvae were sprinkled daily with urine from sheep or with solutions of components normally occurring in sheep urine. Larval development was completely blocked in cultures sprinkled either with sheep urine, with solutions of 2 or 4% urea, or with urine from which urea or the phenol components had been extracted. Only a few third-stage larvae developed in cultures sprinkled with 1% urea. Normal larval development occurred in cultures sprinkled with either the phenol component from urine, or with solutions of 0.035% phenol, 0.035% p-cresol, 0.3% allantoin, 0.3% hippuric acid or 2.8% NaCl. Normal larval development also occurred in all control cultures sprinkled with water, including one culture where there was urine in the space between the outer and inner beaker used for cultivation. It is suggested that the inhibitory effect of urine on larval development is mainly caused by ammonia produced when urinary urea is brought into contact with urease of faecal origin. It is, however, an unsolved question why urine, from which urea had been removed, also inhibited larval development.