Now that the weather has officially warmed up, you know what that means? Yep! The risk of worms and other parasites on your farm has just increased. With this blog post I am going to discuss each species’ most common parasites and what anthelmintics (or antiparasitic drugs) are used to treat them.
Cattle
Lungworms cause a lung disease in cattle with clinical signs similar to those caused by viruses, bacteria, and allergies. Transmission and control are the same as for hairworms (meaning infected cattle pass eggs in manure, the eggs hatch, rain washes larvae from the manure, and cattle then eat them along with grass).
Signs: Coughing with increased respiratory rates, respiratory distress and even failure, reduced milk yields, and weight loss.
Treatment Options:
- levamisole
- fenbendazole
- oxfendazole
- albendazole
- eprinomectin
- doramectin
- ivermectin
- moxidectin
Tapeworms are flat, segmented worms that live in the intestines of animals. Animals can become infected with these parasites when grazing in pastures or drinking contaminated water.
Signs: diarrhea, emaciation, pot belly, and weight loss.
Treatment Options: oxyfendazole and albendazole
Flukes are internal parasites that thrive in wet areas. Infected animals drop manure into the water, the eggs hatch, the larvae develop into snails, and cattle then eat them with grass or hay.
Signs: liver disease (the older the animal the more chronic the disease). Cattle with this parasite also show similar signs to those with malnutrition.
Treatment Options: clorsulon
Poultry
Coccidiosis is an intestinal disease that occurs when a protozoa attaches itself to the intestinal lining of a chicken. The disease starts with microscopic eggs which are passed through a chicken’s droppings.
Signs: droopiness, loss of appetite, pale combs and wattles, ruffled feathers, huddling or acting chilled, blood or mucus in the feces, diarrhea, dehydration, and even death.
Treatment Options: Contact a veterinarian and treat infected birds by spray or water.
The cecal worm is a type of internal parasite that infest the ceca. They are extremely common and thrive on the ground or litter of overcrowded bird enclosures. It is transmitted by infected water, feed, bedding, or soil.
Signs: Listlessness, unthriftiness, depression
Treatment Options:
- Fenbendazole (liquid, powder, or paste),
- Ivermectin (drench or injectable)
- Levamisole (drench or injectable)
Swine
Roundworms are usually found in greatest numbers in pigs up to 2 to 3 months of age with a few in older pigs. Sows usually are not clinically affected, but serve as carriers. Roundworms become infective after being outside of the pig for one month. They live in the small intestine, grazing on the gut lining and ingesting particulate and liquid materials from digesting food.
Signs: Inflammation, milk spots, colic, and malnutrition
Treatment Options:
- vermectin
- fenbendazole
- levamisole
- pyrantel
- dichlorvos
- piperazine (adult stage)
Whipworm is found in the cecum and upper large intestine. The slender head end of this small worm penetrates the gut lining, causing irritation and some blood loss.
Signs: Diarrhea with blood and mucous
Treatment Options: fenbendazole and dichlorvos
The tiny intestinal threadworm, or Strongyloides, occurs commonly in baby pigs. The adult threadworms (females only) are practically microscopic and live in the wall of the small intestine. Microscopic eggs are passed in the feces of pigs as young as 4 days of age. Farrowing pens, dirt lots, and pastures become contaminated. Larvae that are hatched may be ingested in water and feed or may penetrate skin. Most importantly, these infective larvae may be passed in sow colostrum so that infection takes place at first nursing.
Signs: coughing, stiffness, pain, vomiting, and bloody stool
Treatment Options: ivermectin and levamisole
Sheep and Goats
Barber pole worms (Haemonchus contortus) are the most serious parasite of sheep and goats. They live in the abomasum, or true stomach, of sheep and goats. They’re a worldwide threat but especially troublesome in hot, wet climates.
Signs: diarrhea, dehydration, rough hair coats, incoordination, lethargy, bottle jaw, and pale mucus membranes.
Treatment Options: Start by doing the FAMACHA test which looks at the paleness of the mucous membranes. Then use one of the following to treat:
- ivermectin
- moxidectin
- levamisole
- fenbendazole
- albendazole
Meningeal Worm is common to white-tailed deer and causes damage to the central nervous system. Adult meningeal worms live in the lining of the brain and spinal cord. When this parasite sheds eggs, other animals can become infected through ingestion of the eggs.
Signs: scrapie, rabies, trauma, copper deficiency, vitamin E/selenium deficiency, and spinal cord or brain abscesses.
Treatment:
- anti-inflammatory drugs
- levamisol
- ivermectin
- albendazole
- fenbendazole
- thiabendazole
These are just a few of the species-specific parasites. In order to truly understand what parasite your animal has, you should talk to your local extension office or veterinarian, who can also assist you with figuring out the best preventatives for your farm. Just be sure to keep the following in mind: keep a proper diet, have a clean environment (inside and outside of the barn), do not misuse anthelmintics (being cautious of overdosing or underdosing), and practicing good biosecurity measures.
Happy Spring!
-Kayela
If you would like more information the websites I used are listed below.
https://www.hobbyfarms.com/common-livestock-parasites-2/
http://animalscience.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2012/04/beef-common-parasites.pdf
http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/cecal-worms
https://extension2.missouri.edu/g2430
