The effect of Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriforms infection on the ruminal microbiome of lambs.

We evaluated Haemonchus contortus (HC) and Trichostrongylus colubriformis (TC) infection on the ruminal microbial community of Santa Ines lambs to better understand the pathophysiology of parasite infections and the interactions among gastrointestinal nematodes and gut resident microbiota. In this study, 18 six months of age lambs were maintained for 34 days in individual pens divided into three treatments that included animals infected with HC and TC, and control (infection-free). Haematological, ruminal parameter and microbial nitrogen absorbed by pune derivatives, as well as enteric methane emission (CH4), were analysed, and the rumen microbial taxonomic and functional profile assessed by shotgun metagenomics. The analysis showed that total protein, albumin, urea, and butyrate level were lower in animals infected by both parasites, while HC infection also decreased the haemoglobin level. Both infected groups (TC and HC) increased the enteric methane emission (CH4). TC and HC infections increased the diversity and richness of functional microbial genes. Most alterations in the rumen microbiome composition of infected groups are associated with the suppression of microbes involved in microbial homeostasis maintenance and expansion of the archaeal community in the infected animals. Infection led to an increased abundance of nitrogen, amino acid, protein, and energy metabolism genes. Overall, TC and HC infection increased the enteric methane emission, negatively affected taxon's responsible for maintenance de rumen homeostasis and modulated some important genes related to protein and energy metabolism.

Copper oxide and closantel prevent alterations in hepatic energetic metabolism and reduce inflammation in Haemonchus contortus infection.

The aims of this study were to evaluate if the use of copper oxide wire particles, isolated or in association with closantel, in lambs infected with Haemonchus contortus enhances the anthelmintic efficacy of closantel, as well as to evaluate the effects of treatment in hepatic energy metabolism, inflammatory markers and hematological and biochemical tests. The lambs were randomly divided into five groups (6 animals each), as follows: uninfected animals (Control); animals infected with H. contortus (HC); infected and treated with closantel (HC + CL); infected and treated with copper oxide wire particles (HC + Cu); and infected and treated with closantel plus copper oxide wire particles (HC + CL + Cu). The animals of infected groups were infected orally with H. contortus (5,000 L3 -larvae) and on day 14 post infection (p.i) the treatments were initiated. The egg per gram of feces (EPG), butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), myeloperoxidase (MPO), adenylate kinase (AK) and pyruvate kinase (PK) activities and hematological and biochemical tests were evaluated. Treatments with copper oxide (isolated and associated) were able to reduce the EPG count on days 28, 35, 42 and 49 p.i when compared to HC group, while closantel was able to reduce EPG only from day 35 p.i. Moreover, treatment with closantel (isolated or associated) was able to prevent the inhibition of hepatic AK and PK activities caused by H. contortus infection, which may contribute to efficient intracellular energetic communication in order to maintain the balance between cellular ATP consumption and production. Butyrylcholinesterase and MPO activities were higher in infected lambs compared to uninfected, while treated groups showed lower enzymatic activity compared to the group HC. The use of all therapeutic protocols was able to reduce the EPG count. Based on these evidences, the use of copper oxide plus closantel may be considered an alternative to treat lambs infected by H. contortus.

Experimental concurrent infection of Afar breed goats with Oestrus ovis (L1) and Haemonchus contortus (L3): interaction between parasite populations, changes in parasitological and basic haematological parameters.

The study was conducted to examine the occurrence and interaction between Oestrus ovis and Haemonchus contortus in experimentally infected Ethiopian Afar breed of goats. Twenty goats were divided into four groups (O, OH, H, and C) of five animals each. Each animal of groups O and OH received weekly infections for 5 weeks with 66 first instar larvae (L1) of O. ovis. Then animals of groups OH and H were infected with a single dose of 5000 third stage larvae (L3) of H. contortus. Goats of group C were kept free of any infection as non-infected control. Faecal egg count (FEC), blood cell count, total serum protein level and body weight were recorded weekly throughout the study period. At necropsy worm burden, female worm length, fecundity and larval burden of O. ovis in the nasal-sinus cavities of infected animals were assessed. The results showed that the presence of H. contortus in the abomasum of goats of group OH had no influence on the development of O. ovis. On the contrary, a significant reduction (P<0.05) in FEC, worm burden, fecundity and female worm length was revealed in group OH animals compared to the mono-infected animals (group H). This was associated with eosinophilia and reduced packed cell volume.

Development of a faecal occult blood test to determine the severity of Haemonchus contortus infections in sheep.

Haemonchus contortus commences feeding on host blood by day 11 of infection, which leads to the presence of blood in the host's faeces. This study examined the capacity for a faecal occult blood (FOB) test to determine the severity of H. contortus infection in sheep at pasture, and to predict a rise in worm egg count (WEC) as infection matures. Diluted faeces were assayed with Bayer Hemastix and the change in colour of the reagent patch was scored on a 9-point scale from 1 (negative) to 5 in half unit increments. Performance of the test was compared with four benchmarks for severe infection: (1) WEC>2000 on test day; (2) WEC>2000 on test day or 3 days later; (3) WEC>2000 on test day or 3 or 7 days later; and (4) WEC>2000 on test day or 3, 7 or 10 days later. For a FOB score > or = 3, the frequency of false positive results was high (31.6%) for benchmark 1 but decreased to 3.6% as the definition of severe infection was extended to include WEC>2000 on the test day or 3 or 7 days later. Sensitivity (92.0%), specificity (94.2%) and predictive value of a negative test result (87.5%) were also high for benchmark 3. By detection of blood in faeces during heavy H. contortus infections prior to the emergence of high WECs, the test provided an early indication of imminent haemonchosis. Positive FOB test results are also likely to arise from other causes of blood in faeces such as fascioliasis, coccidiosis and some bacterial enteritides. Further field studies are needed to validate the method as a diagnostic test for determining the severity of H. contortus infections under diverse environmental and sheep husbandry conditions.

Accuracy of the FAMACHA system for on-farm use by sheep and goat producers in the southeastern United States.

FAMACHA is a practical on-farm system designed to provide small ruminant producers a tool for improving their management of Haemonchus contortus infections. Although this system has become very popular and widely accepted by small ruminant producers in many regions of the southern United States, there is very limited data reported on the effectiveness of the FAMACHA system when performed by farmers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the FAMACHA system for on-farm use by small ruminant producers during the summer season. Small ruminant producers from Georgia, Louisiana, Florida, and Puerto Rico were trained to use the FAMACHA system by veterinarians and scientists experienced with this method. FAMACHA scores were assigned at least every 2 weeks by producers to weaned and mature sheep (n=552) and goats (n=676) of various breeds and ages between April and September 2004. At intervals that varied among farms from 2 to 8 weeks, researchers determined body condition scores (BCS; 1=thin and 5=fat) and collected blood and feces from a group of animals selected randomly to determine packed cell volume (PCV) and fecal egg counts (FEC). Two separate anemia thresholds were evaluated; these were defined by either FAMACHA score (>or=3 versus >or=4) or PCV (or=3 were considered anemic and PCV cutoff was or=3 were considered anemic and PCV cutoff was

Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis in pen-trials with Javanese thin tail sheep and Kacang cross Etawah goats.

Weight gain costs due to infection were higher in sheep than goats, 28 and 17.5%, respectively, for Trichostrongylus colubriformis and 48.7 and 32.2%, respectively, for Haemonchus contortus. The extent of bodyweight cost attributed to anorexia in sheep infected with H. contortus was higher (13.5 g/day) than in sheep infected with T. colubriformis (2.3 g/day). On the other hand, bodyweight cost due to the other pathogenic effects in sheep infected with T. colubriformis were higher (35.6 g/day) compared to sheep infected with H. contortus (10.9 g/day). A strong relationship between faecal egg count and worm count (r=0.79, P=0.006) was shown only in sheep infected with T. colubriformis. About half of the infected sheep and goats had low or zero faecal egg counts throughout the study. In about 40% the egg count rose initially but became low by weeks 10-16, whereas in about 10% counts increased progressively throughout the period of observation and these animals also had the highest numbers of worms at slaughter. Packed cell volume was reduced in sheep and goats infected with H. contortus but serum protein and haemoglobin levels were unaffected. Sheep infected with T. colubriformis had a higher level of eosinophilia after 8 weeks (18.4%) than sheep infected with H. contortus (11.4%), whereas this pattern was reversed in goats and levels were also lower (4.1 and 8.9%, respectively). There was no apparent relationship between eosinophilia and resistance to infection with H. contortus or T. colubriformis.

Accuracy of an anaemia scoring chart applied on goats in sub-humid Kenya and its potential for control of Haemonchus contortus infections.

We tested the practical application of an anaemia scoring chart (the FAMACHA chart) as a method for controlling Haemonchus contortus in goats kept under smallholder conditions in a sub-humid area of Central Kenya. The objectives were: (1) to test the accuracy of the FAMACHA chart in identifying anaemic goats (PCV< or =18); (2) to quantify the proportion of goats left untreated at farm level when using the chart. On each of two farms, Small East African goats of various ages were allocated to two treatment groups; a FAMACHA group (F1 (n=34) and F2 (n=31) on farms 1 and 2, respectively) and a control group (C1 (n=34) and C2 (n=30)). In F1 and F2 goats with a FAMACHA score of 3, 4 or 5 were treated with anthelmintic after scoring. In C1 and C2 goats were treated every 4 weeks from 15 February to 20 July. Every 2 weeks all goats were scored with the FAMACHA chart and weighed. Furthermore, faecal samples were collected for faecal egg counts (FEC) and blood samples were collected for packed cell volume (PCV) determination. H. contortus was found to be the predominant nematode on both farms. The mean FECs were higher on farm 1 compared to farm 2, while in contrast the mean PCV levels were lowest on farm 2. The latter was most likely due to the presence of Fasciola spp., flea and tick infections on farm 2. The accuracy of the chart was evaluated by using PCV as the gold standard for anaemia (PCV< or =18%). The mean percentage of false-negative scorings per sampling was 0.7% on farm 1 and 1.6% on farm 2, while the mean percentage of false-positive scorings was 9.7% and 21.4%, respectively. It is most likely that the accuracy of the chart was negatively affected by the concurrent parasite infections on farm 2. The mean proportion of untreated goats per sampling was 89% and 77% on farm 1 and farm 2. It was concluded that the FAMACHA chart can be a valuable tool for decision-making in control of H. contortus in goats kept under smallholder conditions, without morbidity or mortality unacceptable to the farmer. The application may further reduce the risk of development of anthelmintic resistance by increasing refugia. However, caution should be taken under conditions where other anaemia-causing parasites are present (e.g. Fasciola spp. and ecto-parasites), since this possibly decreases the accuracy of the FAMACHA chart.

[Physiopathological mechanisms of abomasal Trichostrongylidae infections in small ruminants]. / Meccanismi fisiopatogenetici dei principali tricostrongilidi abomasali dei piccoli ruminanti.

Abomasal Trichostrongylidae infections are still today an important cause of scarce performances in small ruminants, mainly when bred in extensive systems. Although morpho-biology, symptomatology, prophylaxis and therapy of these infections are well known, other, such as physiopathology, are less investigated. The aim of the present note is to review the more important physiopathogenetic mechanisms of abomasal Trichostrongylidae infections, with special emphasis to Haemonchus spp. and Teladorsagia spp. The parasitic anorexia due to the action of gastrin, the defects of digestion due to hypocloridia, the scarce intestinal absorption and anaemia caused by H. contortus are discussed. Furthermore, the effects of hypersensitivity sometimes caused by these abomasal nematodes are examined. A better knowledge of physiopathological mechanisms can represent an important factor to understand the relationships between host and parasite, useful to set up new diagnostic techniques or new therapeutic and prophylactic protocols for sanitary education and control plans of these important and widespread parasitic infections.

The modulatory influence of Trypanosoma brucei on challenge infection with Haemonchus contortus in Nigerian West African Dwarf goats segregated into weak and strong responders to the nematode.

Although Nigerian West African Dwarf (WAD) goats are relatively resistant to infection with Haemonchus contortus and are also trypanotolerant, natural outbreaks of both infections are known to occur. Despite their relative resistance to H. contortus WAD goats nevertheless show variability in response phenotype and it was of interest to examine the effect of this variability on the outcome of concurrent trypanosome infection. Trypanosoma brucei infections were established in goats that were initially classified as good or poor responders to H. contortus. Thirty-nine goats were exposed to an escalating infection with H. contortus, and on the basis of their mean faecal egg counts (FEC) were allocated to high FEC (poor responders, 18 goats with the highest FEC) or low FEC (good responders, 18 goats with the lowest FEC) classes. Nine uninfected naive control goats were included to provide reference baseline values. Retrospective analysis of parasitological and pathological parameters after allocation into high/low FEC classes showed that FECs differed significantly, in both classes packed cell volume (PCV) values fell relative to naive controls, neither class lost weight and both generated marked IgG responses. All goats received anthelmintic on day 61, half of each group was infected with 50 million trypanosomes and on day 67, excepting the controls, all goats were challenged with 3000 L3 of H. contortus. Trypanosome parasitaemia was generally low, and marginally, but not significantly, higher in the low compared with high FEC class, peaking 12-16 days after exposure in both groups and then falling to below microscopically detectable levels (although still detectable by sub-inoculation into mice) by week 3. At autopsy (days 109/110), worm burdens were significantly higher in the trypanosome-infected goats from the high FEC class, relative to all other groups. Trypanosome infected goats showed a tendency (although not significant) towards higher FEC and, irrespective of their FEC class, had lower PCV values although body weight did not vary significantly. All goats challenged with H. contortus had higher antibody levels than naive controls, but neither trypanosome infection nor FEC class affected the magnitude of responses. These results confirm that WAD goats comprise a range of response phenotypes to initial H. contortus infection and that trypanotolerance is a key trait of this breed. Although immunity to nematode infection develops even in poor responders, these animals harbour higher nematode burdens during concurrent infection with T. brucei.

Haemonchus contortus egg excretion and female length reduction in sheep previously infected with Oestrus ovis (Diptera: Oestridae) larvae.

Mixed parasitic infection of animals is a common phenomenon in nature. The existence of one species often positively or negatively influences the survival of the other. Our experimental study was started with the objectives to demonstrate the interaction of Haemonchus contortus and Oestrus ovis in relation to cellular and humoral immune responses in sheep. Twenty-two sheep of Tarasconnais breed (France) were divided into four groups (O, OH, H and C) of five or six animals. Group O and OH received 5 weekly consecutive inoculations with O. ovis L1 larvae (total = 82 L1) in the first phase of the experiment between days 0 and 28. On the second phase, groups OH and H received 5000 L3 of H. contortus on day 48 while group C served as our control throughout the experimental period. Parasitological, haematological, serological and histopathological examinations were made according to standard procedures and all animals were slaughtered at day 95. There was no significant variation in the number and degree of development of O. ovis larvae between the two infected groups. Furthermore, in tissues examined in the upper respiratory tract (nasal septum, turbinate, ethmoide and sinus), group O and OH has responded similarly on the basis of cellular inflammatory responses (blood and tissue eosinophils, mast cells and globule leucocytes (GL)) and serum antibody responses against the nasal bots. This may indicate that the presence of H. contortus in the abomasa of group OH had no marked influence over the development of O. ovis larvae in the upper respiratory tract. On the other hand, we have observed a significantly lower H. contortus female worm length, fecal egg count (FEC) and in utero egg count in animals harbouring the nasal bot (OH) than in the mono-infected group (H). This was significantly associated with higher blood eosinophilia, higher packed cell volume (PCV) and increased number of tissue eosinophils and globule leucocytes. We conclude that, the establishment of O. ovis larvae in the upper respiratory tract has initiated higher inflammatory cellular activity in group OH there by influencing the development and fecundity of H. contortus in the abomasum.

Interaction between Ostertagia circumcincta and Haemonchus contortus infection in young lambs.

Twenty-one-week-old, worm-free, pen-reared lambs were infected with either 6000 O. circumcincta L3 per week, or 3000 H. contortus L3 per week, or both (9000 L3 per week). Egg counts were monitored throughout the experiment, and worm burdens and larval establishment rates of both worm species were estimated after 4, 7, 10 and 13 weeks of infection. After 10-13 weeks of infection with H. contortus only, establishment of O. circumcincta was lower than in previously uninfected controls, demonstrating that a high level of immunity to H. contortus affords some cross-protection against O. circumcincta. Total H. contortus worm burdens and egg counts (about 2000 worms and 3000 e.p.g., respectively) in sheep infected with both worm species were less than half those observed in sheep infected with H. contortus alone (about 5000 worms and 10,000 e.p.g., respectively). Cross-protection between the two species was observed, but was probably less important than the reduction in H. contortus establishment that was caused by O. circumcincta disrupting abomasal physiology.

The interaction of Trypanosoma congolense and Haemonchus contortus in Djallonké sheep.

The interaction between Trypanosoma congolense and Haemonchus contortus was studied in 5 groups of 8 Djallonké sheep. Two groups received a single infection with either H. contortus or T. congolense, and 2 groups were infected with T. congolense followed by H. contortus (TH) or vice versa (HT). One group was kept as uninfected controls. Mortality due to infection was observed only in the dual infection groups. In the TH group, the effects were more acute whereas in the HT group they were more chronic. No significant differences in weight gain could be demonstrated between infected and control groups. Djallonké sheep are able to withstand a single infection with either T. congolense or H. contortus, which confirms their trypanotolerant nature and provides preliminary indication of resistance against helminth infections. However, when exposed to successive infections with both parasites, some of the animals lose this tolerance.

Cortisol as an indicator of severity of parasitic infections of Haemonchus contortus in lambs (Ovis aries).

Two experiments were conducted with lambs to examine the effects of experimental infections of Haemonchus contortus on circulating cortisol levels. In both experiments, naive lambs were divided into three groups based on inoculum doses of 0 (control), 2000 (low dose) and 20,000 (high dose) infective larvae. In experiment 1, the lambs were sampled once daily from day 1 post-inoculation (p.i.) until day 39 p.i. Lambs from the high-dose group had significantly higher sustained levels of cortisol throughout the course of the infection than either the low-dose group or control lambs. In experiment 2, blood was sampled at 30-min intervals for 4 hr on day 21 p.i. The high-dose group also had highest cortisol levels. The consequences of chronic stress and the resultant elevated cortisol concentrations potentially could compromise animal health and animal well-being.

Interaction between Trypanosoma evansi and Haemonchus contortus infection in goats.

An experimental study on interaction between Trypanosoma evansi and Haemonchus contortus infections was conducted in 42 male Barbari goats of 6-9 months age. Parasitological observations like prepatent period, faecal egg count, worm burden and mortality were made in animals infected with H. contortus followed 1 week later with T. evansi and vice versa. These parameters were also examined in animals with single infection with each of these parasites. It was revealed that T. evansi infection in goats lowered the normal resistance to H. contortus. The prepatent period was markedly reduced to 16-18 days in cases where T. evansi preceded H. contortus as compared to 21-25 and 21-23 days in single H. contortus and in a H. contortus preceding T. evansi infection, respectively. The rate of L(3) establishment was significantly enhanced in infection where T. evansi preceded H. contortus. A higher rate of mortality and more pronounced pathological effects were observed in combined infections than in single ones.

Infection with Ostertagia ostertagi in goats and calves.

In order to determine the usefulness of the goat as a model host for Ostertagia ostertagi, a series of experiments was conducted in which young goats and calves were experimentally infected with L3 of calf-source and goat-source isolates. The goat-source isolate was derived from a continuous passage of the bovine parasite in goats. Patent infections resulted in 73 out of 86 inoculated goats (85%). The largest number of patent infections was observed when inoculation consisted of a single dose of goat-source larvae. Percent establishment of infection was generally low in goats inoculated with either larval source. Time taken to achieve patency in goats was frequently within the range normal for cattle infections, but was often extended (21-67 days). With the exception of the generally higher level of establishment of goat- or calf-source isolates in calves and the low frequency of the vulval flap in adult female worms established in goats, little difference was observed in percent establishment or worm population characteristics of the two isolates in goats as based on source of larval inoculum, inoculation course, and age of host at inoculation. Prolonged passage of infection in goats did not result in stabilized isolate more adapted to the goat or less adapted to calves. Fecal egg counts were generally minimal or negative in goats during the first 30 days of infection, but were often increased and not substantially lower than counts in calf infections after 60 or 90 days. Low level egg counts in goats were observed to persist for up to 17 months. During the spring of 2 years, goat kids grazed on a cattle pasture acquired O. ostertagi infections which included adult worms, but a larger number of early L4. The latter were presumed to be inhibited in development just as such inhibition occurs in cattle during spring.

Parasites as stressors: plasma cortisol responses of goats infected with the stomach worm Haemonchus contortus to exogenous corticotropin (ACTH).

Ten male, juvenile pigmy goats of similar age and weight were allocated randomly to two groups. Goats in one group were each inoculated with 20,000 infective larvae of Haemonchus contortus. The other group served as uninfected controls. Goats were housed together, and precautions were taken to avoid the creation of differential, between group, stressogenic circumstances. Body weights, nematode egg production, hematocrits, and clinical signs were monitored over a 61-day period following inoculation of larvae. On Days 59 and 61, adrenal response tests (ART) were conducted by measuring the levels of plasma cortisol before and 2 h after administration of porcine ACTH at the rate of 0.35 I.U. kg-1 body weight on Day 59 and 2.2 I.U. kg-1 on Day 61. Although the infections did not reduce body weights, they were 'heavy' on the basis of egg production, and led to significant reductions in packed erythrocyte volumes. There was no significant difference between the groups of goats in the responses to ART, indicating that the infections did not produce sufficient stress to reduce the ability of the adrenal cortex to respond to exogenous ACTH.

The interaction of Trypanosoma congolense and Haemonchus contortus infections in trypanotolerant N'Dama cattle.

The interactions between Trypanosoma congolense and Haemonchus contortus infections were studied in N'Dama calves. A total of 38 N'Dama bulls was divided into four groups and each group infected either with H. contortus 1 week after infection with T. congolense or with T. congolense 4 weeks after infection with H. contortus, or with either infection singly. Parasitological (faecal egg counts, parasitaemia), haematological (packed cell volume, white blood cell counts, albumin) and clinical parameters (body weight change, mortality rate) were compared among the various groups. The results showed a reduced prepatent period and a markedly increased pathogenicity of H. contortus infections in animals with a concurrent T. congolense infection. The most harmful combination was a H. contortus infection 1 week after the T. congolense infection which resulted in a progressive and severe anaemia, accompanied by hypoalbuminaemia, increased weight loss and high mortality. The anaemia induced by dual infections showed a low responsiveness to chemotherapy and in several cases supportive treatment did not help recovery. The results also showed that animals with a concurrent T. congolense and H. contortus infection ran a higher risk of succumbing during the infection, and also during 10 weeks following treatment. Although infections with T. congolense alone produced no clinical signs, they were found to significantly reduce the ability of infected animals to mount a normal response to a subsequent H. contortus infection. It was concluded that the increased H. contortus egg excretion observed in animals infected with both parasites might significantly increase the risk of nematode infections and that the reduced prepatent period might necessitate more frequent anthelmintic treatments. These interactions should, therefore, be considered wherever attempts are made to control these two diseases.

Testing for clinical anaemia caused by Haemonchus spp. in goats farmed under resource-poor conditions in South Africa using an eye colour chart developed for sheep.

A novel clinical assay for the assessment and subsequent treatment of Haemonchus infection in sheep to slow down the development of anthelmintic resistance--the FAMACHA system--has been developed, tested and validated in South Africa. The system is based on a colour chart with five colour categories depicting varying degrees of anaemia that are compared with the colour of the mucous membranes of the eyes of sheep. The animal is then scored from severely anaemic (pale) through anaemic to non-anaemic (red) and those animals considered in danger of succumbing to the effects of haemonchosis are treated. This method was tested in goats farmed under resource-poor conditions in South Africa. Analyses in goats performed during the summers of 1998/1999 and 1999/2000 show a test sensitivity of 76 and 85%, respectively, meaning that the system may be used to identify correctly 76-85% of those animals in need of treatment with an anthelmintic. However, the test specificity remains low at 52-55%. This means that a large proportion of those animals that would not require treatment would in fact be treated. However, when the use of the FAMACHA system is compared with conventional dosing practices where all the animals are treated, using the FAMACHA system would result in a large proportion of the animals being left untreated. The untreated animals are then able to deposit the eggs of anthelmintic-susceptible worms on the pasture, while the treated ones should pass very few ova, given an effective anthelmintic. This maintains a reservoir of susceptible larvae in refugia, and should slow down the development of anthelmintic resistance. The validation of the FAMACHA system for goats for use by resource-poor farmers, which this paper describes, may have wide application in the tropics and subtropics of sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere.

Selection of ivermectin-resistant Trichostrongylus colubriformis in lambs.

A mixed population of Haemonchus contortus, Teladorsagia circumcincta and Trichostrongylus colubriformis was passed for four generations through lambs. In successive passages and on Day 6 (D6), lambs were dosed subcutaneously with ivermectin at 100, 200, 250 and 225 micrograms kg-1 body weight, respectively. No larvae of H. contortus were recovered after the first passage and following the third drug exposure only T. colubriformis was present. Larvae of the selected strain of T. colubriformis developed to third stage, sheathed larvae in vitro in concentrations of ivermectin that inhibited development of larvae from the original strain of T. colubriformis. A definitive control test was then run with 45 lambs, to compare this selected strain to the original strain. The treatments were 150 micrograms kg-1 subcutaneous (SC) D6, 200 micrograms kg-1 SC D6, 200 micrograms kg-1 intraruminal (IR) D6 and 200 micrograms kg-1 SC D21; all treatments were compared to non-treated controls, selected or original strain as applicable. The D6 IR and D6 SC 150 micrograms kg-1 treatments were greater than 99% effective in both strains, although the D6 SC 200 micrograms kg-1 treatment was 85 and 48% effective in the original and selected strain, respectively. The D21 200 micrograms kg-1 was only 58% effective against the selected strain. There was significant (P less than 0.001) differences between the original and selected strains of T. colubriformis for both fecal egg output and worm counts. The exposure of four generations of immature T. colubriformis to ivermectin selected for partial resistance.

Pathologic changes in lambs with Ostertagia circumcincta infections associated with decreased infectivity of Haemonchus contortus.

Two experiments were done to examine the severity and type of abomasal lesions induced by moderate infections of Ostertagia circumcincta in young lambs and to examine the differences in pathologic changes in lambs with monospecific and combined infections of O circumcincta and Haemonchus contortus. Observations included descriptions of gross and microscopic changes in the abomasums, as well as quantitative analysis of the thickness of the mucosa, numbers of mucus-containing cells, and inflammatory cell accumulations. Seemingly, the changes in the abomasal mucosa of lambs inoculated with O circumcincta were mild and included dilated glands, focal accumulations of lymphocytes, and significant (P less than 0.05) numerical increases of mucus-containing cells, eosinophils, and globule leukocytes, and increase of mucosal thickness when compared with those in noninoculated controls. These differences were less pronounced in lambs given anthelmintic treatment to remove O circumcincta. When H contortus infections were superimposed upon O circumcincta infection, the changes were essentially the same as those described for O circumcincta plus a small, but significant (P less than 0.05), numerical increase of globule leukocytes. Abomasal mucosa of lambs inoculated only with H contortus was more roughened and hyperemic than that of lambs with combined infections, but contained few dilated glands and globule leukocytes. Our conclusions were that moderate infection with O circumcincta did not cause severe or permanent damage to the abomasal mucosa and that such infection decreased the severity of the gross lesions produced by H contortus.