Dynamics of the free-living stages of sheep intestinal parasites on pasture in the North Island of New Zealand. 1. Patterns of seasonal development.

AIM: To describe the seasonal pattern of development of third-stage infective larvae (L3) from eggs of Teladorsagia (=Ostertagia) circumcincta, Trichostrongylus colubriformis and Haemonchus contortus on pasture in the North Island of New Zealand. METHODS: Sheep faeces containing known numbers of eggs of all three nematode species were deposited on, or buried in, pasture plots at three sites, viz coastal Manawatu, Upper Hutt Valley, and East Cape hill country. Development was measured by recovering L3 from faeces, herbage and soil 28-31 days after deposition on 13-18 occasions, between January 2005 and July 2006. Analysis of the number of larvae recovered used a mixed model including number of eggs deposited, weight of faeces recovered (an assumed indicator of earthworm activity), site, contamination date, and position of deposited faeces, i.e. on the surface or buried. RESULTS: There was a significant effect of contamination date on development of all three species, with maximum numbers of L3 developing between late spring (November) and early autumn (March), and minimum numbers in June and July. There were large differences between species, with H. contortus exhibiting a long period (April to October) where development was close to zero, whereas T. circumcincta developed to some extent all year round. Development of T. colubriformis was intermediate between the other two species. Burying faeces containing nematode eggs increased the number of L3 recovered compared with surface deposition (p ≤ 0.001), although there were a small number of exceptions involving only T. colubriformis. The weight of faeces recovered at harvest, which was assumed to be an indication of earthworm activity, was correlated with the number of L3 recovered for all species (p<0.001). In a separate analysis, earthworms were assumed to have been active if <5 g faeces remained at harvest. Where this occurred, the number of L3 of T. colubriformis and T.circumcincta recovered was reduced by 56% and 58%, respectively (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A marked seasonal pattern of development was observed for all three species, with the most larvae developing in spring-early autumn and the least in winter. This seasonal pattern was most pronounced in H. contortus and least obvious in T. circumcincta. Burying faeces containing eggs generally resulted in more L3 being recovered, whilst the apparent activity of earthworms resulted in fewer larvae being recovered.

Dynamics of the free-living stages of sheep intestinal parasites on pasture in the North Island of New Zealand. 2. Weather variables associated with development.

AIM: To identify weather variables associated with the development of eggs of Teladorsagia (=Ostertagia) circumcincta, Trichostrongylus colubriformis and Haemonchus contortus to third-stage infective larvae (L3) under a range of climatic conditions on pasture in the North Island of New Zealand. METHODS: Sheep faeces containing known numbers of eggs of all three nematode species were deposited on, or buried in, pasture plots at three sites, viz coastal Manawatu, Upper Hutt Valley, and East Cape hill country. Development was measured by recovering L3 from faeces, herbage and soil 28-31 days after deposition, on 13-18 occasions between January 2005 until July 2006. Weather data were recorded at each site, and the association between weather variables and number of L3 recovered was analysed using subsets regression to select best-fitting models from several candidate variables, after adjustment for efficiency of recovery of L3. A multiple linear regression model was then developed for each species, to select weather variables that had both significant and substantive effects on the number of L3 recovered. RESULTS: For all species, mean daily temperature was the best predictor of the number of L3 recovered (p=0.001). For T.circumcincta the final model included mean daily temperature and soil temperature (R²=51%), and for T. colubriformis the model only included mean daily temperature (R²=55%). For development of H. contortus, mean daily temperature was the most significant variable, but moisture in the form of rainfall entropy, i.e. the temporal distribution of rainfall, over the first 14 days was also significant in the final model (R²=34%). CONCLUSIONS: Temperature was the most important determinant of developmental success of free-living nematodes on pasture at the study sites, and probably also for other parts of New Zealand with similar climates. Moisture was not significant in the development of T. circumcincta or T.colubriformis, implying that under the generally moist temperate climate in New Zealand, moisture is seldom limiting for development of these species. Haemonchus contortus appeared to be sensitive to moisture availability and precipitation in the first 14 days after deposition of faeces. The results of this study will be further developed as part of species-specific climate-driven models of parasite development in New Zealand.

Heritability of resistance to infestation with the body louse, Bovicola ovis, in Romney sheep bred for differences in resistance or resilience to gastro-intestinal nematode parasites.

The inheritance of resistance to louse infestation and the related allergic skin disease, cockle, was examined in Romney lambs. The lambs used in the study were the 2001- and 2004-born progeny of four experimental breeding lines ("Resistant", "Susceptible", "Resilient" and "Control") developed as part of a long-term study of the genetics of host resistance (maintenance of low faecal egg count (FEC) under nematode challenge) or resilience (maintenance of health and productivity under nematode challenge irrespective of FEC) to nematode parasites in sheep. Between 13 and 22 progeny (equally distributed between males and females, where possible) from each of five sires in each line were selected each year for this trial. All lambs (n=701) were examined for lice (Bovicola ovis) before artificial infestation; in 2001 the lambs were free of natural infestation, whilst in 2004 naturally acquired infestation was evident. In November 2001 and May 2002, approximately 60 B. ovis were transferred to each lamb, followed by monitoring at approximately 2-monthly intervals until August 2002. Similar procedures, but with fewer monitoring times, were repeated on the 2004 lambs. Overall, lambs in the Control line were significantly more susceptible to louse infestation and cockle compared with those in the other three lines (P<0.001). Least squares-means (SEM) of log-transformed louse score for the control, resistant, susceptible and resilient lines, respectively, were 2.178 (0.045), 1.499 (0.050), 1.618 (0.050) and 1.587 (0.044), and for cockle score were 1.36 (0.05), 0.76 (0.05), 0.95 (0.05) and 0.78 (0.05). From all progeny together, the heritability of log-transformed louse score was 0.22 (Standard Error (SE) 0.06) in autumn and 0.34 (SE 0.08) in winter, with a value of 0.44 (SE 0.09) when these data were combined. These estimates were similar to those obtained for resistance to gastro-intestinal nematodes in these breeding lines, using log-transformed FECs. Heritability estimates for cockle score in autumn, winter and when combined were 0.06 (SE 0.04), 0.45 (SE 0.09) and 0.40 (SE 0.09), respectively. The genetic correlations of mean log-transformed louse score with mean cockle score and levels of two different louse antigens in wool were, respectively, 0.97 (SE 0.04), 0.96 (SE 0.08) and 0.95 (SE 0.09). However, there was no significant genetic correlation between louse scores and FEC. These results suggest that selective breeding would be effective in reducing louse infestation and cockle in sheep, but that differences in louse burdens were not related to differences in nematode burdens as indicated by FECs.

Gastrointestinal nematode parasites of sheep: a dynamic model for their effect on liveweight gain.

This paper presents an individual-based model for gastrointestinal nematode parasites of sheep and includes the effect of these parasites on the liveweight performance of young sheep. Parasitism is known to affect the host animal in at least two ways. The first induces a loss of appetite in the host, which reduces pasture consumption compared with the parasite-free animal. This effect is examined in the first part of the study. The second major effect of parasitism is a reduction in the metabolic efficiency of the host which decreases nutrients available for maintenance and growth. The latter part of the paper examines the consequences of incorporating this effect on the liveweight changes in individuals in a group of sheep. Previous models addressing this issue have only given mean liveweight and worm burden changes.

Nematode parasites of sheep: extension of a simple model to include host variability.

We use results from a simulation-based model of nematode infection of sheep to refine the parameters in a simpler generic model of host-parasite population dynamics. These parameters describe the following host-parasite traits: probability of establishment of ingested larvae, mortality rate of adult parasites, and fecundity of adult female parasites. This simple model is then extended by allowing those parameters to vary amongst individual hosts. A sensitivity analysis is performed to determine which parameters have most influence on host parasite burden. The establishment parameter has the greatest effect on the peak value of parasite burden whilst the other two parameters have more effect on the duration of the burden. A comparison is made with results from the flock model after discussion of the definition of an average host. By allowing these parameters to vary simultaneously within the individual hosts we are able to reproduce the over-dispersed distribution of adult parasites frequently seen in nematode infections of sheep flocks.

The epidemiology of nematode infections of sheep.

Nematode parasites have been a major factor limiting sheep production in New Zealand for more than 100 years. Twenty-nine species of nematodes were unintentionally introduced with sheep into New Zealand, but it is principally species of Haemonchus, Ostertagia, Trichostrongylus, Nematodirus and Cooperia that are associated with production losses and clinical disease. The seasonal dynamics of nematode infection are the consequence of complex inter-relationships between the sheep, their husbandry and the prevailing climate. The patterns of pasture contamination by nematode eggs and then larvae and the subsequent levels of infection in ewes and lambs are broadly similar throughout New Zealand. Numbers of infective larvae on pasture build up over summer to a peak in autumn/early winter with, in some years, a spring peak derived from the parturient rise in faecal nematode egg counts (FEC), expressed in eggs per gram of faeces (epg), in lactating ewes. The immune capability of lambs is initially low but increases with the magnitude and duration of exposure to infection. Once significant immunity has developed (usually by 10-12 months of age), sheep are capable of markedly restricting parasite infection, except during times of disease, malnutrition or stress. For the effective control of nematode parasites, farmers have come to rely almost exclusively on broad-spectrum anthelmintics. However, issues relating to resistance, residues and eco-toxicity increasingly threaten the sustainability of chemotherapy. In order to maintain present levels of parasite control and productivity in the long term, farmers need to integrate management practices aimed at minimising animal exposure to parasites with reduced reliance on anthelmintics.

Breeding sheep in New Zealand that are less reliant on anthelmintics to maintain health and productivity.

Breeding sheep that are less reliant on the use of anthelmintics to maintain acceptable health and productivity is one of several options that may assist farmers to manage the growing anthelmintic-resistance problem in New Zealand and meet consumer demands to minimise drug usage in livestock. Although it has been known for many years that genetic factors contribute to the ability of sheep to cope with roundworm challenge, attempts to selectively breed for such factors have occurred only recently. Two host traits, 'resistance' and 'resilience', are thought to be involved in limiting the deleterious effects of roundworms on the health and productivity of sheep, and the associated need for treatment with anthelmintics. Over the last decade, considerable advances have been made in our understanding of the feasibility and implications of breeding for these traits under practical conditions. The experimental breeding lines developed as part of this research are now proving to be a valuable resource for further work directed at identifying genes and/or genetic markers associated with host resistance and understanding the mechanisms of host immunity to nematode parasites in ruminants. This review provides an up-to-date summary of the results of research in this field, with particular reference to dual-purpose sheep in New Zealand, and describes how this information is being applied in practical breeding programmes.

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.

Variation between hosts in the developmental success of the free-living stages of trichostrongyle infections of sheep.

Variation between hosts of different ages and genotypes in the developmental success of trichostrongylid parasite eggs from sheep was investigated in two trials. The percentage development to infective third-stage larvae of eggs collected from lambs and adult ewes infected with Ostertagia circumcincta was compared in an indoor trial. In addition, sheep previously bred for either high or low faecal egg count and grazed outdoors on parasite contaminated pasture were sampled; egg development, faecal egg count, generic profile and faecal dry matter were measured. In both trials, development to L3 was significantly lower in eggs derived from adult ewes than from lambs and, in the field trial, from animals selected for low faecal egg count. The observed differences could not be accounted for by variations in faecal egg count, faecal dry matter content nor by differences in the generic composition of worm egg output. Although not shown conclusively, the results are consistent with an immune mechanism influencing the development of free-living stages of gastrointestinal nematodes outside the host. These results have significant implications for our understanding of parasite epidemiology, particularly as it relates to sources of pasture contamination.

Epidemiology of nematodosis in Romney lambs selectively bred for resistance or susceptibility to nematode infection.

Field trials were undertaken to compare nematode population dynamics, lamb productivity and levels of breech soiling in experimental flocks of Romney lambs selectively bred for increased resistance or susceptibility to nematode infection. In each year of the 2 year study, spring-born ewe lambs derived from Wallaceville Animal Research Centre's divergent nematode-resistant and nematode-susceptible breeding lines were grazed as separate flocks on matched farmlets from weaning (at 3 months old) until they were approximately 10-11 months old. Allocation of farmlets was reversed between Years 1 and 2 of the study to account for any possible paddock-related effects. Within each year both flocks were subjected to identical management conditions, including anthelmintic treatment (which was administered only when the overall mean faecal worm egg count measured across both genotypes reached 1500 eggs g-1). In both years, by mid-autumn (April) nematode larval infestation levels on pasture were approximately 5-6-fold greater on the farmlet grazed by susceptible (S) genotype lambs than on that grazed by their resistant (R) counterparts (Year 1: 2506 cf. 544 larvae kg-1 herbage; Year 2: 431 cf. 74 larvae kg-1 herbage). This led to 51-fold and 56-fold differences in faecal egg count between R and S lambs by late autumn (May) and winter (July) in Years 1 and 2, respectively. Although mean growth rates were similar in the R and S lambs over summer (while pasture infestation levels on the farmlets were still in the process of diverging), significantly higher growth rates occurred in the R than in the S lambs over autumn-winter in both years of the study (P < 0.01). In contrast, no significant differences in growth rate occurred in either year between male lambs derived from the nematode-resistant and nematode-susceptible breeding lines which were grazed together on another area of the Wallaceville farm from weaning until late autumn. Despite the substantially lower pasture infestation levels encountered by the R ewe lambs, they nevertheless temporarily suffered more breech soiling (dags) than their S counterparts (P < 0.01) in both years. Yearling fleece-weights of the R and S genotypes did not differ significantly in either year. Although the results of our study confirmed that there are potentially significant epidemiological benefits to be derived from breeding sheep for resistance to nematode infection, these benefits did not appear to be associated with large advantages in animal performance. Further work is needed to establish how these results should be interpreted with respect to anthelmintic drench requirements of genetically resistant animals.

The death rate of Ostertagia circumcincta and Trichostrongylus colubriformis in lactating ewes: implications for anthelmintic resistance.

Lactating adult Romney ewes were infected, 4 weeks post-lambing, with benzimidazole (bz) resistant strains of Ostertagia circumcincta and Trichostrongylus colubriformis. Commencing 4 weeks after the initial infection the ewes were subjected to challenge 3 times weekly with 5000 L3 of bz-susceptible strains of both parasite species. At weekly intervals over the following 6 weeks, groups of ewes were drenched with a bz anthelmintic (oxfendazole) to remove bz-susceptible parasites and slaughtered to determine adult worm burdens of the bz-resistant parasites. The O. circumcincta infection declined exponentially with a mean daily death rate of 10.6% day-1 and no worms were recovered after 4 weeks or more of challenge. The T. colubriformis infection did not decline significantly over the 6 weeks of continuous challenge, indicating that the death rate could not be distinguished from zero. The upper 95% confidence limit for the death rate of T. colubriformis was 4.9%. The implications of these death rates on selection for drug resistance following ewe drenching during the post-partum period are discussed with selection pressure likely to be greater for T. colubriformis than for O. circumcincta.

Nematode burdens and immunological responses following natural challenge in Romney lambs selectively bred for low or high faecal worm egg count.

Breeding lines of Romney sheep, selected as lambs for consistently low or high faecal nematode egg count (FEC) following periods of natural challenge, have been maintained at Wallaceville for some years. In order to determine the extent to which FECs in low and high genotypes reflected their ability to resist the establishment of gastro-intestinal nematode burdens, we investigated the infection status and immune responses in 8- to 9-month-old progeny of selected rams from low and high FEC breeding lines following a period of grazing without anthelmintic treatment in autumn/early winter. In each of the 2 years of the study, outcross male progeny of the two lowest FEC (LFEC) (i.e. most 'resistant') and two highest FEC (HFEC) (i.e. most 'susceptible') rams from the divergent lines were slaughtered shortly after autumn/early winter FECs had been analysed. Post-mortem worm counts and examination of intestinal histology were then undertaken. Blood samples collected before slaughter in the second year of the study were assayed to measure serum levels of Trichostrongylus colubriformis-specific antibody and immunoglobulins (IgG1 and IgM), and numbers of circulating eosinophils. Overall, correlations between pre-slaughter FEC and total trichostrongyle burdens in the lambs proved to be very high (0.91 and 0.85, respectively, for the 2 years studied). In the first year, LFEC lambs, which were shedding only 28.6% as many strongyle eggs as their HFEC counterparts at slaughter, were found to harbour 37.6% as many adult trichostrongyle worms, while in the second year, LFEC lambs, which were shedding 16.1% as many strongyle eggs as their HFEC counterparts at slaughter, were found to harbour 33.5% as many adult trichostrongyle worms. Results, particularly in the second year, confirmed that significantly fewer worms of most of the important abomasal and small intestinal nematode species which infest lambs in New Zealand (i.e. Haemonchus contortus, Ostertagia circumcincta, Cooperia curticei, Nematodirus spathiger, T. colubriformis, and Trichostrongylus vitrinus) had established in the LFEC genotypes than in their HFEC counterparts. In addition, in utero egg counts of female intestinal Trichostrongylus spp. were significantly lower in LFEC lambs than in their HFEC counterparts, indicating a reduction in fecundity of those worms which did establish. There was also some evidence of an effect of host response on the developmental composition of burdens in the case of some worm species. In relation to host responses, numbers of globule leucocytes/mucosal mast cells in the intestinal mucosa were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in LFEC lambs than in HFEC lambs in both years of the study. Numbers of connective tissue type mast cells and eosinophils in the intestinal mucosa were also significantly higher in LFEC lambs but only in the second year of the study (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). Numbers of circulating eosinophils did not differ significantly between the genotypes. T. colubriformis-specific antibodies, IgG1 and IgM to both L3 and adult worm antigens were all significantly higher (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) in LFEC lambs than in HFEC lambs.

A model for nematodiasis in New Zealand lambs: the effect of drenching regime and grazing management on the development of anthelmintic resistance.

A model for nematodiasis in lambs was expanded to incorporate both the contribution of ewes to nematode epidemiology and the genetic parameters required to simulate the development of anthelmintic resistance in the nematode population. The expanded model was used to assess the impact of various drench and grazing management strategies for ewes and lambs on the rate of development of anthelmintic resistance. Three grazing management options, under a range of drenching schedules, were compared: one in which lambs and ewes were rotationally grazed as separate flocks over the same area after weaning (common grazing); a second in which lambs were grazed, after weaning, on areas from which ewes were excluded (separate grazing); and a third in which lambs were moved to "safe" pasture at weaning and again in early autumn (integrated control). Drenching strategies examined under the first 2 grazing options included a 5 lamb-drench "preventive" programme with 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 additional lamb drenches, and 0 or 1 ewe drench treatment at either tall-docking or mating. Under the third grazing option, lambs were given either 1 or 2 drench treatments at or following each move to safe pasture and ewes 0 or 1 drench treatment at either tail-docking (i.e., 3-4 weeks after lambing) or mating. Model output suggests that drenching ewes prior to any lamb drenching programme is likely to significantly increase selection for drench resistance by pre-selecting the larval challenge to the lambs and, under some grazing systems, by reducing the diluting effect of eggs of susceptible genotypes passed by undrenched ewes. The results highlight the potential importance of undrenched ewes as a refuge for susceptible worm genotypes and indicate that on its own, drenching frequency is likely to be a poor indicator of selection pressure for resistance and thus of limited value in selecting strategies for the management of anthelmintic resistance.

A model for nematodiasis in New Zealand lambs.

A strategic model is described for the epidemiology of mixed nematode infections in New Zealand lambs. The model successfully reproduces known patterns of parasite epidemiology and production loss in lambs under currently implemented control strategies. The variation in model output during sensitivity analysis was within acceptable limits defined by field data. Model output was most sensitive to variation in parameters affecting survival and migration of the free-living stages and host resistance to infection, suggesting that these factors are most influential in regulating parasite populations. It is intended to use the model to focus research on key aspects of nematode epidemiology and control and, following the incorporation of appropriate genetic mechanisms, anthelmintic resistance.

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.

Utilisation of the persistent anthelmintic activity of ivermectin in a preventive drenching programme for dairy calves.

A study was undertaken to assess whether the persistent anthelmintic effect of ivermectin in cattle would allow an extension of the drenching interval in the currently recommended preventive drenching programme for the control of gastrointestinal nematode infection in dairy calves. A comparison was made of the parasitological and production responses of treatment groups of calves, grazing replicated plots, receiving either six drenches of oxfendazole at four-weekly intervals or four subcutaneous treatments with ivermectin at six-weekly intervals. Compared with the levels of infective larvae on pasture grazed by untreated control calves, mean larval numbers on pasture grazed by ivermectin and oxfendazole treated calves were 94.3% and 98.3% lower, respectively, during the period of maximum larval availability (March-May). Mean liveweight gains (December-August) of the treated groups (101.4kg and 110.2kg respectively) were not significantly different, but both were highly significantly different from that of the untreated controls (57.4kg). Mean plasma pepsinogen levels for the ivermectin, oxfendazole and control groups over the period of maximum values (June-August) were 1.92 i.u., 1.72 i.u. and 5.53 i.u., respectively. The difference between the treated groups was not statistically significant but both were highly significant different from the control group. The present results indicate that four treatments with ivermectin (subcutaneously) at six-weekly intervals achieved a similar level of prophylactic control to that effected by six treatments with oxfendazole at four-weekly intervals.