Use of fluorescent lectin binding to distinguish eggs of gastrointestinal nematode parasites of sheep.

The binding of a panel of 19 lectins to carbohydrates on the eggs of economically important nematode parasites of sheep has been assessed as the basis of a rapid test to distinguish parasite eggs, at least at the genus level. A total of six lectins can be used to identify eggs of six nematode parasites: peanut agglutinin (PNA) for Haemonchus contortus; Lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA) for Teladorsagia sp; Aleuria aurantia agglutinin (AAL) for Trichostrongylus sp; Psophocarpus tetragonolobus­II (PTLII) for Nematodirus sp; Lotus tetragonolobus lectin (LTL) for Cooperia sp and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) for Chabertia ovina. For WGA, LCA and LTL, weak binding was also observed to H. contortus and Teladorsagia sp, Trichostrongylus sp and C. ovina eggs, respectively. Nematode eggs in two faecal samples were identically identified by both lectin binding and PCR, except for PCR identification of the eggs of Nematodirus sp, as these did not lyse. Lectins bound best to H. contortus eggs extracted from fresh faecal samples or after storage at room temperature or 4 °C for up to 24 h, but eggs stored at -20 °C or -80 °C did not bind PNA.

Distinguishing morphological features of the third larval stage of ovine Trichostrongylus spp.

In this paper we describe a procedure that enables the identification of species of infective third stage (L(3)) Trichostrongylus larvae. Lambs were infected with putatively monospecific infections of three species of Trichostrongylus commonly found in New Zealand (T. axei, T. colubriformis and T. vitrinus) and Teladorsagia (Ostertagia) circumcincta. After recovering L(3) from faecal cultures, the lambs were slaughtered and adult male worms recovered and examined for spicule morphology to verify identification. L(3) were examined for morphological features and measurement of their length. Further L(3) were exsheathed and examined under high power optics to observe posterior morphological features (tubercles). The posterior of T. colubriformis has a three-tubercle structure whereas T. vitrinus has a single tubercle and T. axei none. However, the tails of T. circumcincta also lack tubercles and thus T. axei cannot be readily distinguished from them on this feature. The range of lengths of L(3) of Trichostrongylus spp. (600-858 microm) and T. circumcincta (700-914 microm) were found to overlap considerably. The shape of the anterior end of these two species differs and this in combination with length provides an indication of the proportion of T. axei and T. circumcincta in a culture. A combination of tubercle number, with overall length and anterior morphology of L(3), can be used to differentiate nematode populations of T. axei, T. colubriformis, T. vitrinus and T. circumcincta.

Faecal egg counts in Angora goats following natural or experimental challenge with nematode parasites: within-flock variability and repeatabilities.

Phenotypic variation in faecal worm-egg count (FEC) was studied in 100 Angora goats between 6 months and 2 years old as part of a wider investigation into the potential use of FEC as a selection trait in breeding goats for improved natural resistance to nematode infection. Shortly after weaning at 4-5 months old the goats were subjected to a procedure involving successive natural and experimental challenges, which was continued at 6-monthly intervals until the goats were 2 years old. Experimental challenges consisted of Trichostrongylus colubriformis infective larvae administered orally at a dose rate of 1000 larvae/kg liveweight. FECs resulting from both natural and experimental infections varied considerably between individual goats as well as between different sampling times. Mixed model analysis of variance of natural infections confirmed that a significant component of this variation was attributable to differences between individual goats (P < 0.01) as opposed to other potential sources of variability, indicating that although generally deemed to be more susceptible than sheep, Angora goats do nevertheless vary in their ability to resist nematode infection. Rank correlations between pairs of FECs derived from the same infection were relatively high for both natural and experimental infections (r = 0.63-0.70 and 0.54-0.79, respectively; all P < 0.01). However, those between mean FECs measured on successive 6-monthly sampling occasions were considerably lower and more variable (r = 0.01-0.41 and 0.19-0.62 for natural and experimental infections, respectively). Nevertheless, FECs resulting from natural infections showed moderate correlations with those from corresponding experimental infections (P < 0.01) on all except the first sampling occasion (r = 0.23-0.61). Correlations were marginally higher when FECs from experimental infections were adjusted for infecting dose size (r = 0.32-0.63). FECs resulting from experimental infections were significantly higher on the first sampling occasion (at 6 months) than on subsequent occasions (P < 0.01) suggesting that some degree of resistance to nematode establishment had developed in the goats by 12 months old. On the basis of unadjusted FECs there appeared to be no marked increase in resistance beyond that age, although analyses based on FECs adjusted for infecting dose size suggested an increase in acquired resistance up to 18 months of age. FECs following natural challenge in goats which had also received experimental infections were not significantly different from those exposed only to natural challenge, indicating that the drench-abbreviated experimental infections had had no immunizing effect. Does that had given birth and were lactating at 24 months had significantly higher FECs than 'dry' does in the flock (P < 0.01), suggesting that like sheep, goats exhibit a post-parturient relaxation of immunity. The use of FECs as potential indicators of resistance status in goats and as a criterion for the selection of breeding animals is discussed.

An evaluation of an oral formulation of moxidectin against selected anthelmintic-resistant and -susceptible strains of nematodes in lambs.

The efficacy of an oral formulation of the newly developed parasiticide, moxidectin, was tested against benzimidazole-resistant Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus colubriformis, and Nematodirus spathiger, levamisole-resistant Ostertagia circumcincta, and susceptible Cooperia curticei infections in weaned lambs. Thirty-two lambs were experimentally infected with mixed doses of the above strains of nematodes. They were allocated into four treatment groups by stratified randomisation using liveweights and faecal egg counts 28 days later. One group received moxidectin at 0.2 mg/kg liveweight, one group oxfendazole at 4.5 mg/kg liveweight, one group levamisole at 7.5 mg/kg liveweight and the last group remained untreated as the control. Worm burdens in the lambs at slaughter 10 days after oral treatment confirmed the resistance status of the nematode strains used, and showed that moxidectin had a greater than 99.9% efficacy (p<0.01) against all of them. No adverse effects due to treatment with moxidectin were observed in any of the animals.

A survey of nematode control measures used by sheep farmers and of anthelmintic resistance on their farms. Part 2: South Island excluding the Nelson region.

Forty-three randomly selected farms located throughout South Island, excluding the Nelson region, were surveyed for anthelmintic usage and for sheep nematodes resistant to anthelmintics. Most farmers had used both benzimidazole and non-benzimidazole broad-spectrum drenches on their properties in previous years. Sheep were being drenched, on average, 5.6 times within their first year of life but much less frequently thereafter. Commercial interests played the dominant role in helping farmers formulate their drenching policies. On each farm 24 numbered ewe replacement lambs, born during the spring of 1980, were sampled for faeces at the beginning of the trial to provide material for egg counts and larval cultures. The lambs were weighed and divided into three groups of eight. One group received thiabendazole (TBZ) at 66 mg/kg, the second levamisole (LEV) at 8 mg/kg while the third remained untreated as controls. All were resampled 4 to 10 days later. On 32 (88%) of the 40 farms where drenching trials were successfully carried out during autumn 1981, the faecal egg count depression (FECD) following treatment with either drench was 100%. On one farm TBZ was less than 100% effective as gauged by FECD. LEV proved to be less than 100% effective on 7 farms. On one farm the FECD was less than 80%, on 2 between 90% and 95% and on 4 between 95% and 99%.