2. An organism lives in or on another organism (its host)
and benefits by deriving nutrients at the host's expense
(Oxford Dictionary)
Internal Parasite
Organisms that live inside animals
Examples: Barber Pole Worm, Tapeworms, Coccidia, Etc.
External Parasite
Organisms that live outside an animal
Examples: ticks, lice, flies, fleas, mites, etc.
Control: Permethrin and Ivermectin
3. Sheep, goats and camelids can be
affected by many internal and
external parasites
Two types:
1. Helminths
Nematodes (roundworms)
Cestodes (tapeworms)
Trematodes (flukes)
2. Protozoa (coccidia)
Most important parasites are
gastrointestinal nematode (GIN)
High worm burden result in a reduction
in production and increase in clinical
signs
4. Strongylid nematode that causes
severe set back to the economic
production of small ruminants
Blood-sucking parasite
Prolific egg layers with short life cycle
Symptoms
Pale mucus membranes (anemia)
Bottle jaw
Sudden death
Weight loss, low body condition and
anorexia
Pale membranes
5. Adult worms are between 20 mm
or ¾ inch (male) and 30 mm or 1
inch (female) long
Female parasites are prolific egg
layers, producing 5,000 – 10,000
eggs per day
Eggs are passed in manure
Eggs hatch and larvae develop in
the manure (environmental
protection).
Third-stage (L3) exit manure and
moves on to forage where they
are ingested
Larvae develop to adult inside the
host
6. Development of worm larvae occurs
between 50 – 96 °F.
Minimum time eggs take to develop to
infective L3 is 3 – 4 days
Ex-sheath their cuticles in the rumen
and move to the gastric pits of the
abomasum
L4 then develop to a fully mature
adult
Lancet, in their oral cavity, is used to
cut blood vessels in the host
abomasum for blood consumption
0.05 ml of blood per worm per day
7. Develops most successfully in
warm, wet climates
Hot, humid summers with long
grazing seasons favors
development
Southeast is ideal
Northeast (May – September)
West (less of a problem unless
irrigation is practiced)
Does not survive well in freezing
temperature
Can still be successfully established
in cold states and countries.
8. Individual adult worms survive for
only a few months
L3 Larva Survival on pasture:
Once metabolic reserves are used up
they die since cuticle prevent feeding
Survive longer in cool, moist conditions
Die quicker in hot weather
In temperate areas, pasture considered
safe after 6 months
In hot summer, pasture considered safe
after 2 – 3 months
Die even quicker if pasture is used for
hay or plowed prior to re-use
9. Larval migration on forage is
affected by temperature, soil
moisture, and humidity.
Larvae can migrate vertically (4
– 6 inches) in moisture on grass
blades
Pasture management essential
to parasite control
Allow animals to browse on
bushes and taller plants
Do not survive well on other
surfaces than grass area
10. Can go into a period of
“hypobiotic” (arrested)
development during winter to
survive
Does not continue development and is
metabolically inactive
Delay adulthood and egg production
Occurs after infection and before
development is complete
Occurs when conditions are least
favorable for larvae and egg
development
Will survive the winter in the
arrested stage
11. In warmer climates,
hypobiosis less important in
parasite transmission
Development resumes in late
winter and spring
Coincides with kidding and
lambing seasons as animals
immune system get weaker
Young susceptible animals as
they begin to graze
Contamination of pasture in the
spring (kidding/lambing time)
13. The most common method used to
control GIN infection in the US is
anthelmintic (dewormer) drug treatment
Overuse and misuse of the available
dewormers, this has led to the prevalence
of anthelmintic resistance in small
ruminant GIN
Drug resistance is well documented for
all classes of anthelmintics
Even the new drugs have parasite
resistance
15. http: //www. wormx. info
The American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control
was formed in response to the critical state of the small
ruminant industry associated with the emergence of
anthelmintic resistant worms. The SCSRPC is a group of
scientists, veterinarians, and extension specialists devoted to (1)
developing novel methods for sustainable control of gastro-
intestinal nematodes in small ruminants and (2) educating the
stakeholders in the small ruminant industry on the most up-to-
date methods and recommendations for control of
gastrointestinal nematodes.
Hinweis der Redaktion
Sheep and goats in the U.S. and around the world are infected with a wide range of internal and external parasites
Require different treatments: Anthelmintic/dewormers or amprolium/sulfa drugs and Insecticides Permethrin and Ivermectin)
The most important of these worms all belong to the same taxonomic group and are often referred to collectively as “trichostrongyles”.
However, the main set back to the economic production of sheep and goats in the US and the rest of the world is losses due to GIN infection as they increase mortality and decrease growth.
The most problematic of these internal parasites is the blood sucking, barber polled worm known as H. contortus due to its devastating effects on sheep and goats as it may cause anemia, bottle jaw, and sudden death.
Normal development and survival occurs between 65-85 degrees F take 7 – 10 days
Loss of red blood cells and blood proteins
Larvae can migrate laterally (12 – 36 inches)
These parasites are very problematic to their host and require treatment once identified. Traditionally, the most common method of treatment for GIN infection in the US is the use of broad spectrum anthelmintic which fall in one of three classes: the benzimidazole, macrocyclic lactones, or the imidazothiazole classes.
Unfortunately, the overuse and misuse of the available anthelmintics have led to the prevalence of anthelmintic resistance in small ruminant GIN.
In order to combat this problem, it is imperative that new chemotherapeutic strategies are developed.