10 - SR internal parasites

internal parasites

helminths

nematodes

trematode

cestode

protazoa

coccidia

giardia

cryptosporidium

strongyle lifecycle

21-day pre-patent period (longer if not perfect conditions)

5 days from L1 to L3

larvae encyst (hypobiosis) in wall of abomasum during summer or winter

haemonchus contortus

Needs 100% humidity at ground level (2 cm of rain per mo)

temps 60-95F

consums 0.05 mL of blood/day

periparturient rise

rise in number of eggs in pasture due to more shedding from stress

Begins 2-4 weeks before births

lasts 6-8 weeks

higher in multiple births

higher in lower protein diets

other worms

trichostrongylus

more hardy in cold and dry

telodosagia

likes cooler, temperate climates (40-68F)

strongyloides

low pathogenicity

ingestion or skin penetration

PPP = 9 days

lungworms

muellerius and Dictyocaulus

P. tenuis

meningeal worm

tapeworm

oestrus ovis

nasal bot

coccidia

economics

1/3 of sheep losses due to parasites

sustainable parasite control

  1. prevent anthelmintic resistance

  2. manage current resistance

  3. reduce reliance on anthelmintics

  4. prevention is better than treatment

anthelmintic resistance

permanent (except levamisole after 5 yrs)

not preventable, only slowed

absence of refugia

refugia

    part of worm population which is not exposed to anthelmintics

    external/free-living stage

portion of flock untreated

20% of the animals have 80% of the worms
reasons
  • frequent deworming

  • treating all animals regardless of disease status

  • deworming in drought

  • under-dosing → incorrect dose for species, incorrect weight

  • use of anthelmintics with residual activity

  • deworming for GI parasites when treatment is needed for meningeal worm or ectoparasites

  • rotating dewormers

Deworming targets

<80% reduction = resistance

80-95% reduction = clinically effective (leaves refugia)

>95% reduction = susceptible

how to measure resistance

  1. clinical response to drenching

  2. fecal egg count reduction test

  3. DrenchRite assay (not commercially available in the US)

side resistance

if resistant to one benzimidazole, resistant to all

moxidectin has efficacy against ivermectin resistant parasites

anthelmintics

white

benzimidazole

clear

macrocyclic lactones → avermectins, milbemycin

yellow

levamisole

pyrantel

using dewormers

weigh each animals

store at safe temps

do not dose multiple times → except benzimidazole at 24 hours

hold off feed for 24 hours for white and clear dewormers

using multiple dewormers at once

do not mix

delays development of resistance

achieves clinical effectiveness

can use as quaratine treatment

copper oxide wire particles

use in ADDITION to good management

use only to kill adult worms

GOATS ONLY, HAEMONCHUS ONLY → toxic to sheep

determining who to treat

need some parasite load for immunity

not all worms are pathogenic

resilient animals will carry high loads and not be affected → infect pasture

resistant animals have low loads during high risk/heavy pasture load → genetically important

5-point test

eye/FAMACHA

only used for hamonchus

must use card → replace when faded, certification needed

deworm with score of 4-5 (sometimes 3 if young, lactating, poor BCS, high FEC, trending up, high-risk period)

back/BCS

females at parturition = 3.5/5

females at breeding = 3-3.5/5

Bucks at breeding = 4/5

bottle jaw (late stage infection)

low protein

tail/scours (DAG score)

check fecal

may be nutrition or coccidia if <1 yr

Treat if DAG score >/= 3

nose

oestrus ovis

may have other causes: dust, respiratory viruses, bronchopneumonia, stress

alternate to nose: coat condition

arbitrary score 1-3 (1 = shiny)

affected by nutrition/external parasites

quantifiable fecal testing

identify types of eggs

whips not very worrying goats unless >200 EPG; 100 epg very worrying in camelids

McMaster EPG → 28 ml solution + 2 g feces

Stolls/Wisconsin sugar

fecal egg count reduction test → perform 10-14 days after dosing; good = 95% efficacy, adequate = 85% reduction; DON’T POOL SAMPLES

must use in conjuction with 5 point scores to find genetically resistant/resilient animals

TP/PCV

confirms FAMACHA score and bottle jaw

preventing resistance

  • good nutrition

  • cull susceptible animals

  • keep resistant animals

  • pasture management

  • tannins

  • copper oxide particles

  • correct doage

  • correct anhelmintic

  • correct weight

  • leave refugia/targeted deworming

  • kidding and weaning management

  • biosecurity

mantra

monitory regularly

drench sparingly

cull religiously

targeted deworming

most susceptible

weaned kids

orphan kids

yearlings

high-producing females

late-born kids

geriatric animals

less susceptible

mature animals

dry females

pets

males

sheep compared to goats

large flocks

leave 10-20% of group untreated (dependent on resistance level

breeding for worm resistance

cull animals with high FEC

use high FEC rams/bucks for terminal sire flock

grazing pastures

rotation

every 1-3 days

rest a minimum of 60 days (6 mo in warm, wet conditions)

use modified sandhill calving system

move, then dose

tannins

increase in by-pass protein

reduced bloating

increased milk production

reduced internal parasite numbers, egg output, hachability

can be toxic in excess

biosecurity

dry lot new animals 48 hours

treat with 2 anthelmintics

turn out onto dirty pasture