Gastro intestinal parasites of goats

Gastro intestinal parasites of goats Trichuriasis, which is infection with the parasite Trichuris trichiura, or whipworm, is a very commo

Trichuriasis, also known as whipworm infection, is an infection by the parasitic worm Trichuris trichiura (whipworm).[2] If infection is only with a few worms, there are often no symptoms.[1] In those who are infected with many worms, there may be abdominal pain, tiredness and diarrhea.[1] The diarrhea sometimes contains blood.[1] Infections in children may cause poor intellectual and physical dev

elopment.[1] Low red blood cell levels may occur due to loss of blood.[2]

The disease is usually spread when people eat food or drink water that contains the eggs of these worms.[1] This may occur when contaminated vegetables are not fully cleaned or cooked.[1] Often these eggs are in the soil in areas where people defecate outside and where untreated human f***s is used as fertilizer.[2] These eggs originate from the f***s of infected people.[1] Young children playing in such soil and putting their hands in their mouths also become infected easily.[1] The worms live in the large bowel and are about four centimetres in length.[2] Whipworm is diagnosed by seeing the eggs when examining the stool with a microscope.[3] Eggs are barrel-shaped.[8] Trichuriasis belongs to the group of soil-transmitted helminthiases.[9]

Prevention is by properly cooking food and hand washing before cooking.[5] Other measures include improving access to sanitation such as ensuring use of functional and clean toilets[5] and access to clean water.[10] In areas of the world where the infections are common, often entire groups of people will be treated all at once and on a regular basis.[4] Treatment is with three days of the medication: albendazole, mebendazole or ivermectin.[6] People often become infected again after treatment.[11]

Whipworm infection affected about 464 million in 2015.[7] It is most common in tropical countries.[4] In the developing world, those infected with whipworm often also have hookworms and ascariasis infections.[4] They have a large effect on the economy of many countries.[12] Work is ongoing to develop a vaccine against the disease.[4] Trichuriasis is classified as a neglected tropical disease.[9]


Contents
1 Signs and symptoms
2 Cause
2.1 Reservoir
2.2 Vector
2.3 Transmission
2.4 Life cycle
2.5 Incubation period
2.6 Morphology
3 Diagnosis
4 Prevention
4.1 Deworming
4.2 Sanitation
5 Treatment
6 Epidemiology
6.1 Regions
6.2 Infection estimates
7 History
8 Synonyms
9 Research
10 References
11 External links

04/02/2023
04/02/2023
Many species of nematodes and cestodes cause parasitic gastritis and enteritis in sheep and goats. The most important of...
30/08/2022

Many species of nematodes and cestodes cause parasitic gastritis and enteritis in sheep and goats. The most important of these are Haemonchus contortus, Teladorsagia (Ostertagia) circumcincta, Trichostrongylus axei, intestinal species of Trichostrongylus, Nematodirus spp, Bunostomum trigonocephalum, and Oesophagostomum columbianum. Cooperia curticei, Strongyloides papillosus, Trichuris ovis, and Chabertia ovina also may be pathogenic in sheep; these and related species are discussed under GI parasites of cattle

What are some of the ways that farm management can be changed to limit parasite problems in a goat herd or sheep flock?1...
30/08/2022

What are some of the ways that farm management can be changed to limit parasite problems in a goat herd or sheep flock?
1. Don’t feed hay or grain on the ground. Instead, feed from racks or feeders and keep these clean. The goal is to limit f***l contamination of feed. Goats have a tendency to want to climb into or on top of feeders, so these may need to be covered or modified to prevent them from stepping in or defecating into the feed. Rake up spilled feed and discard, compost or fed to horses, pigs, or poultry. Similarly, clean water troughs and bowls regularly to limit transmission of parasites through f***l – contaminated water.
2. Don’t overgraze pastures. If your animals are allowed to graze pasture, move the animals to new pasture (or use an electric fence to section the pasture) every seven to 10 days,
sheep in field
particularly during the height of the growing season where warmer temperatures and moisture is maintained. Once a pasture has been grazed, mow it short (2 inches or less) and remove the clipped forage. Exposure to sunlight for three to four weeks will kill many of the remaining parasite larvae, making the pasture safer for sheep and goats to return to graze. Alternatively, you can move horses or poultry onto the pasture – when these other animals ingest parasite larvae from sheep and goats, the larvae are not able to mature and will die without causing harm to the “new” animal that ingests them. The sheep and goats can be returned to this pasture in about four to six weeks, provided that the alternate animals have disrupted the f***l pellets left by the sheep and goats (poultry) or grazed the grass down extensively (horses).
Goats do very well if allowed to “browse” – that is, eat the leaves and stems of shrubs and tall weeds at shoulder height to the goat. The parasites shed in f***s will not contaminate the plants at this height off of the ground because the eggs and larvae will be on the ground or on short plants nearer the ground level. Pastures intended for grazing can be cultivated with certain plants that show promise in helping to control parasites in sheep and goats. These plants – such as Sericea lespedeza and birdsfoot trefoil – contain compounds called condensed tannins, which appear to suppress egg production by certain gastrointestinal helminths.
3. Avoid overcrowding – Because most gastrointestinal helminthes are transmitted directly from one host to another, many parasitism problems arise from overstocking, or simply having too many animals on a given section of land. Overcrowding contributes to added stress on the animals as well as added competition among the animals held in small confined areas. This is particularly true when sheep and goats are grazing small pastures.
4. Use deworming medicine (called anthelmintics) wisely. Your veterinarian can test the f***s of your sheep and goats to determine the level of parasitism present in your animals, and he or she can then custom design a deworming strategy to fit your situation. There is no single schedule for deworming treatments that fits all of the needs of all farms and ranches. To avoid treating your animals when they don’t need it, and to avoid delaying treatment until animal health is compromised, consult with your veterinarian on how best to use these medicines. Haphazard use of deworming medicines can induce anthelmintic (dewormer) resistance of the parasites, and the medicines may permanently lose their efficacy to kill the gastrointestinal parasites found in sheep flocks and goat herds. Loss of anthelmintic efficacy becomes especially important if these drugs are over-used.
5. Avoid malnutrition. Sheep and goats are far more capable of coping with gastrointestinal parasites if their nutritional needs are met. Feeding adequate amounts of protein to these animals is particularly important. Your veterinarian can help you to design a nutritional program that best fits your animals’ needs. Combining the judicious use of anthelmintics, adequate nutrition, and good flock/herd management will greatly diminish the negative effects of gastrointestinal parasites in your sheep and goats.

What are clinical signs of intestinal parasitism?Depending on the parasite, signs of gastrointestinal parasitism can ran...
30/08/2022

What are clinical signs of intestinal parasitism?
Depending on the parasite, signs of gastrointestinal parasitism can range from weight loss, diarrhea, anemia with pale mucous membranes of the eyes and mouth, “bottle jaw” (edematous swelling under the jaw), generalized weakness and eventually death.

Can the parasites from sheep affect goats, and vice versa?Sheep and goats carry parasites that can be transmitted to eac...
30/08/2022

Can the parasites from sheep affect goats, and vice versa?
Sheep and goats carry parasites that can be transmitted to each other (across different species). There is new evidence to suggest that certain parasites from sheep and goats can be transmitted to cattle, and vice versa.

How are parasites transmitted from animal to animal?While in the gastrointestinal tract, parasites lay microscopic eggs ...
30/08/2022

How are parasites transmitted from animal to animal?
While in the gastrointestinal tract, parasites lay microscopic eggs that shed in the animal’s f***s. Once on the ground in the f***s, the parasite eggs develop to contain larvae that hatch on the ground. The larvae then develop to the stage where they are capable of infecting another animal. The time needed for this maturation step is variable, but in general it occurs over a matter of several days during warm weather. During very cold weather, maturation can be delayed for weeks to months. The larvae are capable of traveling a small distance (millimeters to centimeters) away from the f***l matter and reside on nearby blades of grass or other plant matter, such as hay that is on the ground. Larvae can be spread by animals walking in their manure and stepping onto nearby grass or feed, which is then ingested by another animal. Note that contamination of feed by f***l matter is the primary means by which these parasites are introduced into the host – this is a critical point in controlling parasites with good management.
Once ingested by the sheep or goat, the parasite matures in the gastrointestinal tract into the adult form, and egg laying resumes. In optimal conditions, this entire cycle can be completed in less than three weeks, so pasture contamination with parasite eggs can become massive in a short period of time. Most damage to the host is caused by either the maturing larvae or the adult forms of the parasites, and in some cases both larvae and adults can contribute to disease.

Parasites cause disease when they are present in large numbers or when the host animal is weakened by another disease or...
30/08/2022

Parasites cause disease when they are present in large numbers or when the host animal is weakened by another disease or by poor nutrition. Damage to the host occurs when the parasites attach to the lining of the gastrointestinal tract and ingest blood – large numbers of
sheep
parasites can create anemia from blood loss. Damage can also occur from other parasites when they either attach to the lining of the gastrointestinal tract and cause it to become inflamed, or they live in the lumen (open area) of gastrointestinal tract and have access to ingested feed nutrients before the host can digest them. This can result in impaired ability of the host animal to absorb nutrients, causing poor body condition (thinness), poor growth rates, low milk production, and/or poor hair coat or fleece growth. Some parasites cause a reduction in appetite by the host animal.

Gastrointestinal parasites are commonly found in sheep and goats worldwide.Parasites cause disease when they are present...
30/08/2022

Gastrointestinal parasites are commonly found in sheep and goats worldwide.
Parasites cause disease when they are present in large numbers or when the host animal is weakened by another disease or by poor nutrition.
Some parasites cause a reduction in appetite by the host animal.

MorphologyThis species of whipworm is white and is known to have a long, thin neck that composes two-thirds of its body,...
06/06/2021

Morphology
This species of whipworm is white and is known to have a long, thin neck that composes two-thirds of its body, and a short, thick posterior. The male organisms of T. ovis usually range from 53.04mm-75.08mm in length, while their female counterparts are approximately 32.03-70.19mm in length. The spicule length is 4.18-5.62mm for both genders. Both genders also have bacillary bands. T. ovis that inhabit different species of sheep or goats can have slightly different morphologies.[4]

Symptoms and treatment
Like all whipworms, T. ovis primarily inhabit the host’s cecum. However, sheep and goats are rather resistant to the parasite infection and often do not experience many symptoms. If the host is heavily infected, a large portion of the blood vessels located in the cecal wall will be consumed. This eventually results in the thickening of the wall, thus preventing that region of the large intestine from absorbing fluids causing the host to have diarrhea.[5][6] This can be extremely detrimental for the host during a drought. Although sheep and goats are relatively resistant to them, T. ovis is one of the most common nematode parasites, and many of the aforementioned hosts are infected by this species of whipworm. As a result, farmers began treating infected livestock with anthelmintics, an internal pesticide, in hopes of eradicating these infections. Unfortunately, there have been cases reported where the parasites are resistant to these treatments, thus prompting researchers to develop potential vaccines to combat such resistant whipworms.[7]

Trichuris ovis, commonly known as a whipworm, is a nematode belonging to the genus Trichuris. This whipworm species was ...
06/06/2021

Trichuris ovis, commonly known as a whipworm, is a nematode belonging to the genus Trichuris. This whipworm species was first discovered in 1795 and is known to infect sheep and goats.[1][2][3] These organisms are capable of inhabiting any region that has the aforementioned hosts, as can be attested by the numerous reports of T. ovis findings throughout North and South America, Australia, Europe, and Asia.[1] Information regarding the species' general life cycle and egg development can be seen in the Trichuris page.

Many species of nematodes and cestodes cause parasitic gastritis and enteritis in sheep and goats. The most important of...
06/06/2021

Many species of nematodes and cestodes cause parasitic gastritis and enteritis in sheep and goats. The most important of these are Haemonchus contortus, Teladorsagia (Ostertagia) circumcincta, Trichostrongylus axei, intestinal species of Trichostrongylus, Nematodirus spp, Bunostomum trigonocephalum, and Oesophagostomum columbianum. Cooperia curticei, Strongyloides papillosus, Trichuris ovis, and Chabertia ovina also may be pathogenic in sheep; these and related species are discussed under GI parasites of cattle (see Gastrointestinal Parasites of Cattle).

Haemonchus, Ostertagia, and Trichostrongylus spp
Haemonchus contortus, abomasum, sheep
Haemonchus contortus, abomasum, sheep
COURTESY OF DR. RAFFAELE RONCALLI.

The principal stomach worms of sheep and goats are Haemonchus contortus, Teladorsagia (Ostertagia) circumcincta, Ostertagia trifurcata, Trichostrongylus axei (see Gastrointestinal Parasites of Cattle), and in some tropical regions, Mecistocirrus digitatus. Cross-transmission of Haemonchus between sheep and cattle can occur but not as readily as transmission between homologous species. Sheep are more susceptible to the cattle species than cattle are to the sheep species. For descriptions and life cycles, see Haemonchus, Ostertagia, and Trichostrongylus spp.

Haemonchus is most common in tropical or subtropical areas or in those areas with summer rainfall, whereas Ostertagia and T axei are more common in cooler winter rainfall areas. The latter species predominate in temperate zones.

Haemonchosis in sheep may be classified as hyperacute, acute, or chronic. In the hyperacute disease, death may occur within 1 wk of heavy infection without significant signs. The acute disease is characterized by severe anemia accompanied by generalized edema; anemia is also characteristic of the chronic infection, often of low worm burdens, and is accompanied by progressive weight loss. Diarrhea is not a sign of pure Haemonchus infection; the lesions are those associated with anemia. In cases in which diarrhea is present, there may be mixed infection with other worm genera. The abomasum is edematous and, in the chronic phase, gastric pH increases, which causes abomasal dysfunction. Mature sheep may develop heavy, even fatal, infections, particularly during lactation.

The lesions, pathogenesis, and signs of Ostertagia and T axei infections are similar to those found in cattle. Even subclinical infection depresses appetite, impairs gastric digestion, and reduces use of metabolizable energy and protein. Ostertagia is the principal genus involved in the periparturient rise in f***l egg counts in sheep, and heavy infections may cause diarrhea and depress milk production in ewes. This output of eggs serves as the main source of contamination for the lambs. The same type of inhibited development seen in cattle has been seen with both Ostertagia and Haemonchus in sheep.

For diagnosis, treatment, and control, see Gastrointestinal Parasites of Ruminants et seq.

Intestinal Trichostrongylosis
The life cycle of intestinal Trichostrongylus (T colubriformis, T vitrinus, T rugatus) is direct. The developing larvae burrow superficially in the crypts of the mucosa and develop to egg-laying adults in 18–21 days.

Anorexia, persistent diarrhea, and weight loss are the main signs. Villous atrophy (or stunting of villi) results in impaired digestion and malabsorption; protein loss occurs across the damaged mucosa. There are no diagnostic lesions; a total worm count should be done to evaluate the condition.

For diagnosis, treatment, and control, see Gastrointestinal Parasites of Ruminants et seq.

Bunostomum and Gaigeria spp
Adult Bunostomum trigonocephalum (hookworm) are found in the jejunum. The life cycle and clinical findings are essentially the same as for the cattle hookworm (see Bunostomum sp), with as few as 100 worms causing clinical signs. Gaigeria pachyscelis is found in Africa and Asia and resembles Bunostomum in size and form (2–3 cm). Larvae of G pachyscelis infect the host only by skin pe*******on. G pachyscelis is a voracious bloodsucker and probably the most pathogenic hookworm.

For diagnosis, treatment, and control, see Gastrointestinal Parasites of Ruminants et seq.

Nematodirus spp
The species of Nematodirus found in the small intestine of sheep are similar in morphology and life cycle to N helvetia**s (see Nematodirus spp). Clinical infections are of considerable importance in the UK, New Zealand, and Australia, where lamb mortality may reach 20% in affected flocks if animals are untreated. The parasites are also endemic in some parts of the Rocky Mountain states of the USA, where they occasionally cause clinical disease in lambs.

In areas where clinical infections are common, the disease has a characteristic seasonal pattern. Many of the eggs passed by affected lambs lie dormant through the remainder of the grazing season and the winter, with large numbers of larvae appearing during the early grazing period of the following year. Thus, the lambs of one season contaminate the pastures for the next season’s lambs; fortunately, the life cycle can be broken if the same area is not used for lambing each year. Most clinical infections are seen in lambs 6–12 wk old.

N battus is seen in the UK and other parts of Europe and also in North America. Eggs hatch after a period of chill and then a rise in ambient temperature to a day/night mean of 10°C (50°F). This occurs in late spring in temperate areas. The hatching requirements mean that there is generally one generation of N battus per year, although in the UK, occasional outbreaks in the autumn have been reported. The parasite can be highly pathogenic, because large numbers of larvae hatch over a short period at a time when young lambs are beginning to take in significant quantities of grass. Disease may be associated with developing larval stages and may be seen within 2 wk of challenge, ie during the prepatent period (15 days). Other Nematodirus spp often are found in low-rainfall regions (eg, the Karroo in South Africa and inland Australia) where other parasites are rarely seen.

Nematodirosis is characterized by sudden onset, “loss of bloom,” unthriftiness, profuse diarrhea, and marked dehydration, with death as early as 2–3 days after an outbreak begins. Nematodirosis is commonly confined to lambs or weaner sheep, but in low-rainfall country where outbreaks are sporadic, older sheep may have heavy infections. The lesions usually consist of dehydration and a mild catarrhal enteritis, but acute inflammation of the entire small intestine may develop. Counts of ≥10,000 worms, together with characteristic signs and history, are indicative of clinical infections. Affected lambs may pass large numbers of eggs, which can be identified easily; however, because the onset of disease may precede the maturation of the female worms, this is not a constant finding.

For diagnosis, treatment, and control, see Gastrointestinal Parasites of Ruminants et seq.

Oesophagostomum sp
Oesophagostomum nodules, abomasum, sheep
Oesophagostomum nodules, abomasum, sheep
COURTESY OF DR. RAFFAELE RONCALLI.

The nodular worm of sheep, Oesophagostomum columbianum, has a similar morphology and life cycle to those of the nodular worm of cattle (see Oesophagostomum sp).

Diarrhea usually develops during the second week of infection. The f***s may contain excess mucus as well as streaks of blood. As the diarrhea progresses, sheep become emaciated and weak. These signs often subside near the end of the prepatent period, but the continuing presence of numerous adult worms may result in a chronic infection in which signs may not develop for several months. The sheep become weak, lose weight despite a good appetite, and show intermittent diarrhea and constipation.

As immunity develops, nodules form around the larvae; they may become caseated and calcified. Nodule formation usually is more pronounced in sheep than in cattle. Affected sheep walk with a stilted gait and often have a hu**ed back. Stenosis and intussusception may develop in severe cases. Diagnosis is difficult during the prepatent period, at which time it must be based largely on clinical signs.

For diagnosis, treatment, and control, see Gastrointestinal Parasites of Ruminants et seq.

Chabertia sp
Adult worms cause severe damage to the mucosa of the colon, with resulting congestion, ulceration, and small hemorrhages. Infected sheep are unthrifty; the f***s are soft, contain much mucus, and may be streaked with blood. Immunity develops quickly, and outbreaks are seen only under conditions of severe stress.

For diagnosis, treatment, and control, see Gastrointestinal Parasites of Ruminants et seq.

Strongyloides sp
Heavy infections with adult worms cause a disease resembling trichostrongylosis. Infection is usually by skin pe*******on but can also occur via the milk. Damage to the skin between the claws, produced by skin-penetrating larvae, resembles the early stages of footrot and may aid pe*******on of the causal agents of footrot. Most infections are transitory and inconsequential.

For diagnosis, treatment, and control, see Gastrointestinal Parasites of Ruminants et seq.

Trichuris spp
Heavy infections with whipworms are not common but may be seen in very young lambs or during drought conditions when sheep are fed grain on the ground. The eggs are very resistant. Congestion and edema of the cecal mucosa, accompanied by diarrhea and unthriftiness, are seen.

For diagnosis, treatment, and control, see Gastrointestinal Parasites of Ruminants et seq.

Tapeworms
The pathogenicity of Moniezia expansa in sheep has long been debated. Many earlier observations, which associated this infection with diarrhea, emaciation, and weight loss, did not accurately differentiate between tapeworm infections and infection with certain small nematodes (eg, Trichostrongylus colubriformis). Tapeworms are relatively nonpathogenic, but heavy infections can result in mild unthriftiness and GI disturbances. Diagnosis may be made by finding individual segments (which are much wider than long) in the f***s or lengths of adult tapeworm protruding from the a**s or by demonstrating the characteristic eggs on f***l examination. The life cycle involves an oribatid mite that lives in the pasture mat. The prepatent period is 6–7 wk. Infections are seasonal, in accordance with mite activity, and unusual in animals older than ~4–5 mo of age.

Thysanosoma actinioides, adult, sheep
Thysanosoma actinioides, adult, sheep
COURTESY OF DR. RAFFAELE RONCALLI.

Thysanosoma actinioides, the “fringed tapeworm,” inhabits the small intestine, the bile ducts, and the pancreatic ducts. It is commonly found in sheep from the southern and western parts of the USA and also South America. Although it has not been associated with clinical disease, it is of economic importance because livers are condemned when tapeworms are found in the bile duct.

For diagnosis, treatment, and control, see Gastrointestinal Parasites of Ruminants et seq.

27/03/2021

Intestinal parasites have become more difficult to manage in small ruminants because of the parasite’s increasing resistance to several anthelmintics. Amongst livestock diseases, gastrointestinal (GI) parasite infection in ruminants results in adverse effects on feed intake, growth rate, carcass weight and composition, wool growth, fertility, and milk yield
Another important parasitic infection in small ruminants is coccidiosis, which is caused by coccidian parasites of the genus Eimeria. It prevails prevalently in many parts of the world, either clinically or subclinically, and contributes to enteric disease, especially in young or stressed goats under poor farm management, leading to high mortality in goat kids. Moreover, coinfection with other Trichostrongyle nematodes makes for diagnoses clinically coccidiosis difficult. Parasitic diseases negatively impact not only direct losses related to acute illness and death and damage, condemnation of organs, and cost of veterinary service but also indirect losses, including decreases in productive potentials, such as decreased growth rate, weight loss in young growing animals, and late maturity of slaughter stock
Small ruminant production holds an important sector for the development of socioeconomic status in developing countries and supports a variety of socioeconomic functions throughout the world. In Myanmar, the small ruminant population was about 2.1 million in 2018 (2018 census of Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department, Myanmar). Small ruminants are raised with systems of semi-intensive and free-ranging in grazing land in the central part of Myanmar because of the relatively low rainfall in the area. Currently, farmers are facing a lot of problems in livestock production due to climate changes, nutritional insufficiency, and infectious pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. The great economic losses due to GI nematode infection, especially the Trichostrongyle nematodes, have more impact on sheep production than goat production.

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