Deer Worm Treatment Protocols

Comparison of two treatments for goats and sheep showing signs of deer worm (meningeal worm, P. tenuis) infection – Does it help to include ivermectin?

• Cornell Univ. Deer Worm Factsheet – explains how goats and sheep become infected with deer worm and the signs of infection. Summarizes for farmers and veterinarians the results of our study comparing the effectiveness of two deer worm treatments.
• Deer worm challenge study  – scientific summary of the Cornell Univ. study to see if sheep build resistance to deer worm after exposure. If sheep exhibit resistance after exposure then there may be potential for vaccine development.
• Field trial to evaluate the efficacy of ivermectin in the treatment of small ruminants with presumptive Parelaphostrongylus tenuis infections – scientific abstract of the treatment comparison study
• Instructions to Deer Worm Study Farmers – please note that while an instructional chart used in the study that specified specific amounts of dexamethazone, fenbendazole (Safe-guard), and ivermectin or ivermectin placebo by animal weight and corresponding meat withdrawal periods is included here, your veterinarian must consult with FARAD (Food Animal Residue Avoidance Database) to confirm drug withdrawals.
• Neurological score card  Deer Worm Study Neuro Exam and video of a neurological exam
• Videos of a goat naturally infected with deer worm pre-treatment and post-treatment  – short (15 sec) videos that demonstrate the dramatic difference in behavior of a single goat infected with deer worm, before and after treatment.
  
• Videos of a sheep naturally infected with deer worm pre-treatment and post treatment – short (15 sec) videos that demonstrate the dramatic difference in behavior of a single sheep infected with deer worm, before and after treatment.
  
• Some interesting Cornell deer worm scientific articles to look up
  • Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 38(2), 2002, pp. 448–452. Wildlife Disease Association 2002. Meningeal Worm is a Long–lived Parasitic Nematode in White–tailed Deer. Michael S. Duffy, Trent A. Greaves, Nathan J. Keppie, and Michael D. B. Burt.
  • Infect Immun. 2006 Feb; 74(2): 1297–1304. doi:  10.1128/IAI.74.2.1297-1304.2006.
    Cathepsin B Homologue at the Interface between a Parasitic Nematode and Its Intermediate Host. Michael S. Duffy, Deanne K. Cevasco, Dante S. Zarlenga, Woraporn Sukhumavasi, and Judith A. Appleton. Includes short discussion of how soon deer worm L3 larvae emerge from snails/slugs and survival of L3 in the environment.