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Biomedical subjects

J Armour

Publications and source records attributed to J Armour.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Studies on the interaction between an irradiated bovine lungworm vaccine and a morantel sustained release bolus.

The interaction of the morantel sustained release bolus with the development of immunity in calves vaccinated with two doses of gamma irradiated (40 Kr) Dictyocaulus viviparus larvae was investigated under laboratory conditions. A total of 37 helminth-naive calves were used. Eight calves were used in the first part of the study to test the efficacy of a larval vaccine prepared by using gamma rays delivered from a cobalt source. In the second part of the study, four groups of four groups of four calves each were vaccinated and of these, all the animals in two groups each received a bolus. The remaining three groups (two groups of four and one group of five calves each) remained nonvaccinated with each animal in one group receiving a bolus. All the calves were challenged with approximately 2000 lungworm larvae four months postvaccination. In order to simulate possible field conditions, two of the vaccinated groups and two of the nonvaccinated groups were given a trickle infection of 800 lungworm larvae over a four-week period, three months prior to challenge. Based on a comparison of clinical signs, pathology and lungworm burdens at necropsy, the vaccination of the calves conferred a significant degree of protection (P less than 0.001) to a subsequent challenge compared with controls. The introduction of a morantel sustained release bolus and/or a trickle infection had no effect on the high degree of protection engendered by the vaccination. Nonvaccinated calves given a trickle infection, with or without a bolus, were also highly immune to challenge.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Plasma protein loss associated with gastrointestinal parasitism in grazing sheep.

Some pathophysiological effects of parasitic gastroenteritis in two groups of lambs grazing paddocks either heavily or lightly contaminated with trichostrongyle larvae were investigated between July and October 1980. The leak of plasma protein was measured on three occasions at pasture using 51chromic chloride. Total faecal output was measured indirectly using chromic oxide. Losses of 51chromic chloride-labelled plasma protein into the gastrointestinal tract were significantly higher in the lambs grazing the heavily contaminated pasture than in those grazing lightly infected ground in both July and August. The increased plasma losses were associated with high faecal egg counts, hypoalbuminaemia and elevated levels of plasma pepsinogen.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1983

Pathophysiology of gastrointestinal trichostrongyles in sheep: plasma losses and changes in plasma pepsinogen levels associated with parasite challenge of immune animals.

The pathophysiological effects of experimental larval challenge with a mixed trichostrongyle infection were measured in ewes which had previously grazed contaminated pasture. Their immune status was confirmed by low worm burdens, both before and after challenge. Despite the low worm burdens, it was evident that larval challenge was associated with marked pathophysiological disturbances and, in particular, a doubling of plasma pepsinogen levels, albumin catabolism and losses of plasma protein into the gastrointestinal tract. The concurrent timing of these changes suggested they had a common aetiology. These findings indicate that larval challenge of such animals may cause impaired production, despite low parasite burdens.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Effect of anthelmintic treatment on the milk yield of dairy cows in England, Scotland and Wales.

One hundred and twenty dairy herds collaborated in a trial to determine the effect on milk yield of anthelmintic treatment given at calving. Cows and heifers were divided into five groups. Three were each given a different anthelmintic: thiabendazole, fenbendazole or levamisole. One group was given a placebo and the fifth was untreated. Analysis of data from 9000 lactations showed a treatment effect just significant at the 5 per cent level, of 42 kg milk, 1.8 kg fat and 1.4 kg protein. There was no evidence that the three anthelmintics differed in their effect on yield. The effect of treatment was not greater in heifers than in cows, nor was there a difference between spring and autumn calvers. There was no indication that the effect of treatment was markedly greater in some herds than others and it was not related to periparturient faecal egg count.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Observations on the infectivity and pathogenicity of three isolates of Ostertagia spp sensu lato in calves.

After experimental infection of three groups of calves with three different defined isolates of Ostertagia spp sensu lato a marked variation in the infectivity and degree of pathological change was noted. The most highly infective and pathogenic isolate contained approximately 30 per cent O leptospicularis in addition to O ostertagi (70 per cent) and a negligible number of Skrjabinagia lyrata. The other two isolates consisted solely of O ostertagi (approximately 90 per cent) and S lyrata (approximately 10 per cent) and showed comparable infectivity and pathogenicity to that commonly recorded. The greater pathogenicity of the isolate containing O leptospicularis was attributed to the higher infectivity and the greater damage caused to the gastric mucosa by individual parasites when compared with O ostertagi.

Abomasum↗
PubMed1982

Ostertagia ostertagi in calves: growth, nitrogen balance and digestibility studies conducted during winter feeding following different fenbendazole therapy programmes.

Observations of growth, nitrogen (N) balance and digestibility were made during the first winter housing period upon three groups of calves which had previously been naturally infected with Ostertagia ostertagi and which were left either untreated (A) or treated with fenbendazole on three occasions (B) or every two weeks during the entire grazing season (C). The diet given contained sufficient metabolisable energy but only about 60 per cent of the recommended crude protein to sustain a daily growth rate of 0.5 kg. Growth rates were only 50 per cent of that expected on a basis of metabolisable energy input with untreated calves A being poorest. Water intake and output was greatest in group A. There were no significant differences in digestibility between groups although group A had the lowest apparent crude protein digestibility. N balance was always lowest in group A and highest in group C but group B demonstrated a marked increase in N retention with time after housing. Differences in N retention were mainly accounted for by increased urinary N excretion. It is concluded that, under conditions of suboptimal protein intake, nematode infection in the growing calf can markedly affect production even after efficient anthelmintic treatment.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Population study of bovine Ostertagia spp infective larvae on herbage and in soil.

Herbage and stratified soil samples from a previously grazed calf pasture were collected regularly over a 12 month period (October 1979 to September 1980). Infective larvae of cattle Ostertagia spp (OL3) were present on each occasion to a depth of at least 15 cm. Analysis of the vertical distribution of the OL3 suggested a possible downward migration during the winter, followed by an upward trend in the spring and summer. The number of OL3 present in the root mat in august 1980 was estimated as 6.4 x 10(6) per hectare, a similar figure to that estimated for the previous November (6.6 x 10(6)) despite the absence of contamination during this period.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Field study on the epidemiology and pathogenicity of different isolates of bovine Ostertagia spp.

The epidemiological features of three different isolates of bovine Ostertagia spp under similar initial levels of larval challenge were compared in the field. Two of the isolates, consisting mainly of Ostertagia ostertagi, and a low proportion of Skrjabinagia lyrata conformed in epidemiological behaviour with those investigated by previous workers, though the worm burdens which established did not give rise to the expected clinical signs. The third isolate behaved in a different way, yielding very high faecal egg counts which were followed by high pasture larval counts, heavy worm burdens and severe clinical disease. This isolate, while consisting mainly of O ostertagi and a few S lyrata, also contained a proportion of O leptospicularis, and it is suggested that this species may influence the dynamics of the host-parasite relationship in bovine ostertagiasis.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

A survey of abomasal parasitism in dairy and beef cows in south-west Scotland.

Abomasa were collected from 183 dairy and 186 beef cows in south-west Scotland and examined for the presence of nematodes. One hundred and fifty-two of the dairy cows (83 per cent) and 154 of the beef cows (83 per cent) had Ostertagia species worm burdens of less than 1000; 4 per cent of both dairy and beef animals had more than 10,000 ostertagia present. The only other nematode detected was Trichostrongylus axei and this was present in low numbers in 23 cows (13 dairy and 10 beef). A marked seasonal fluctuation was observed in the proportion of adult and fourth larval stages of ostertagia present. Over 70 per cent of the burdens from October through to April were fourth larval stages. In contrast less than 20 per cent of the burdens from May to September were fourth stage larvae.

Abomasum↗
PubMed1981

Studies on the control of bovine ostertagiasis using a morantel sustained release bolus.

The efficacy of a morantel sustained release bolus to control ostertagiasis in grazing calves was assessed. Administration of the bolus into the rumen of calves immediately before turnout on to spring pasture in May substantially reduced the level of pasture contamination with infective larvae later in the season. Compared with controls there was a 71 per cent reduction in worm burdens acquired over the entire grazing season with a mean improvement in weight gain of 24 kg. When administration was delayed until midsummer (July) a good anthelmintic effect was obtained but there was little reduction in pasture contamination levels. Worm burdens acquired over the grazing season were reduced by only 48 per cent with a mean weight gain advantage of only 9 kg compared with controls. The control obtained against Dictyocaulus viviparus by both treatments was not absolute, failing to prevent the development of mild parasitic bronchitis.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Successful passive transfer of resistance to Fasciola hepatica infection in rats by immune serum and transfer factor.

Resistance to Fasciola hepatica was shown by a 64 per cent reduction in fluke recovery compared with control rats was recorded in rats inoculated with serum from sheep experimentally infected with F hepatica. A comparable reduction (55.6 per cent) was obtained using transfer factor prepared from lysed leucocytes of infected rats. No significant reduction was obtained using transfer factor prepared from sheep or calves.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Stimulation of resistance to Fasciola hepatica infection in sheep by a regime involving the use of the immunomodulatory compound L tetramisole (levamisole).

The effect of prior nematode and cestode infection in sheep on the course of experimental Fasciola hepatica was studied. The cross immunising properties of these parasites per se and the modification of any protective effect conferred by the immunomodulatory compound L tetramisole (levamisole) were investigated. It was recorded that no protection was conferred on sheep against F hepatica infection by virtue of prior infection with any helminth species per se, including Cysticercus tenuicollis. However, a degree of immunity to F hepatica was recorded, for only the second time, in sheep primed with helminth infections before treatment with levamisole. This is the first demonstration of a beneficial effect conferred by levamisole by virtue of its immunomodulatory properties in ruminants infected with any helminth species. Resistance was shown by a 47 per cent reduction in flukes recovered from sheep treated in this way (P less than 0.05).

Animals↗