Parasites of cattle, sheep and goats - Cestodes, Trematodes and Protozoans

Moniezia spp.

• Common name: Ruminant tapeworm

• DH: Sheep, goats, cattle

• IH: Oribatid mites (pasture mites)

• Loc: Small intestine

• LC: Indirect — ingestion of infected mite

• CS: Usually subclinical; heavy infections → poor growth, diarrhea

• DX: Fecal float (proglottids or eggs)

• TX: Praziquantel, Albendazole, Fenbendazole

• PREV: Pasture rotation, control mites

• ZOON: No

Fasciola hepatica

• Common name: Liver fluke

• DH: Cattle, sheep, goats

• IH: Freshwater snails

• Loc: Liver, bile ducts

• LC: Indirect — ingestion of metacercariae on vegetation

• CS: Anemia, weight loss, diarrhea, hepatomegaly, bottle jaw

• DX: Fecal sedimentation (eggs), serology, liver necropsy

• TX: Triclabendazole, Albendazole

• PREV: Drain wet pastures, control snails, rotate grazing

• ZOON: Yes (rare; humans)

• Fasciola hepatica → Fascioliasis

Dicrocoelium dendriticum

• Common name: Lancet liver fluke

• DH: Cattle, sheep, goats

• IH: Land snails → ants

• Loc: Bile ducts

• LC: Indirect — ingestion of ants containing metacercariae

• CS: Usually subclinical; heavy infections → weight loss, anemia, liver damage

• DX: Fecal sedimentation (eggs)

• TX: Albendazole

• PREV: Pasture management, avoid ant-contaminated feed

• ZOON: Rare

Eimeria spp.

• Common name: Coccidia

• DH: Cattle, sheep, goats, poultry

• Loc: Small intestine (species dependent)

• LC: Direct — ingestion of sporulated oocysts

• CS: Diarrhea (sometimes bloody), dehydration, poor growth

• DX: Fecal float (oocysts)

• TX: Sulfonamides, Amprolium

• PREV: Hygiene, avoid overcrowding, clean water/food

• ZOON: No

Cryptosporidium spp.

• Common name: Cryptosporidia

• DH: Cattle, sheep, goats, humans

• Loc: Small intestine

• LC: Direct — ingestion of oocysts from contaminated water/food

• CS: Diarrhea (especially in neonates), dehydration, poor growth

• DX: Acid-fast staining of feces, ELISA, PCR

• TX: Supportive care; no fully effective drug

• PREV: Sanitation, clean water, remove feces promptly

• ZOON: Yes

• Cryptosporidium spp. → Cryptosporidiosis

infex of Tritrichomonas foetus

• Common name: Bovine trichomoniasis

• DH: Cattle (bulls, cows)

• Loc: Reproductive tract

• LC: Direct — venereal transmission

• CS: Early embryonic death, infertility, abortion (cows); asymptomatic (bulls)

• DX: Vaginal or preputial smear/culture, PCR

• TX: No approved treatment; infected bulls often culled

• PREV: Biosecurity, use tested bulls, artificial insemination

• ZOON: No