Lungworm Flashcards
What is the name of cattle lungworm?
Dictyocaulus viviparus
What is the life cycle of cattle lungworm?
- Eggs excreted on pasture
- Develop in the faecal pat over 7 days L1->L2->L3
- L3 larvae dispersed from the faecal pat by fungi
- Ingested, L4 enter blood and move to the lungs
- Coughed up and swallowed, develop to L5 in gut
How can you diagnose cattle lungworm?
Baermann
Serum or milk ELISA
Eosinophillia on bloods
Swabs to rule out IBR
How long can lungworm larvae survive on the pasture?
6 weeks. After this time pasture can be considered clean
What is the most important source of lungworm?
Carriers - bought in heifer replacements
Can reintroduce infection into a herd that hasn’t been exposed in over 2 years (immunity wanes)
When do bovine lungworm infections peak?
July
What is the duration of immunity to lungworm?
Adults - 2y
Larvae - 4m - vaccination aimed at larva
Short lived - requires boosting
What vaccination strategy should you follow for bought in replacements?
Full course prior to turn out
Safe to use in pregnancy
What must you do 2 weeks after the 2nd dose of huskvax?
Turn out - exposure to boost immunity
What is a typical vaccination protocol for huskvax?
Calves over get first dose when over 8wo
2nd dose 4 weeks later
Turnout 2 weeks after this
What worming protocols can use to be effective against lungworm?
Vaccination is sufficient
Ivermectin - at 3, 8 and 13 weeks of turnout
Or panacur in mid-July
Heifers should be wormed, adults shouldn’t require worming as they should have immunity
Combine with worming win vaccination in heifers
Can treat adul pt herd with eprinomectin annually
What are the clinical signs of lungworm in a herd?
Dairy heifers in their first grazing season - August to September Coughing Pyrexia Reduced production - milk drop
What is the lungworm of cattle?
Dictyocaulus viviparus
What are the lungworms of sheep?
Muellerius capilliaris
Dictycaulus filaria
What are the lungworms of horses and donkeys?
Dictyocaulus arnifieldi
