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Faecal egg output, contamination of pastures and serum pepsinogen concentrations in heifers with natural gastrointestinal nematode infections in north-west Spain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2009

M. Mezo-Menéndez ,
P. Díez-Baños ,
P. Morrondo-Pelayo  and
N. Díez-Baños
M. Mezo-Menéndez
Affiliation:
Centro de Investigaciones Agrarias de Mabegondo, 15080 La Coruña, Spain
P. Díez-Baños*
Affiliation:
Parasitología y Enfermedades Parasitarias, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Santiago de Compostela, 27071 Lugo, Spain
P. Morrondo-Pelayo
Affiliation:
Parasitología y Enfermedades Parasitarias, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Santiago de Compostela, 27071 Lugo, Spain
N. Díez-Baños
Affiliation:
Parasitología y Enfermedades Parasitarias, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain
*
*Author for correspondence.
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Abstract

In 1988, 1989 and 1990 second year grazing heifers, naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes, were separated into two groups, one of which was treated orally with albendazole. In 1988 and 1989 treatment was administered immediately after parturition (February), and in 1990 during the last term of pregnancy (December). Both treated and control animals were grazed on separate plots in a rotational system. Maximum faecal egg counts were observed amund parturition, except in 1990, when treatment was given at the end of gestation. The main genera identified were Cooperia, Trichostrongylus, Ostertagia and Oesophagostomum. The number of Ostertagia larvae in the treated groups increased from 1989 to 1990, while the others decreased. Pasture contamination with third stage larvae (L3) was lower on the piots grazed by treated heifers. Maximum numbers of L3 were found in autumn, at the end of winter, and at the beginning of spring. Mean serum pepsinogen concentrations were significantly higher in the untreated groups. This concurs with the pattern for L3 on pasture. The trial shows that if a single treatment against gastrointestinal nematodes is carried out, and the animals remain on contaminated pastures, the parasitic load tends to level out after 4–5 months under favourable climatic conditions. However, the percentages of nematode genera occurring in the new populations may differ from those in the original infection.

Type
Research Papers
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 69 , Issue 1 , March 1995 , pp. 53 - 58
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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