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Influence of host genetics upon antibody responses against gastrointestinal nematode infections in cattle.

Previous studies have shown that the number of gastrointestinal nematode eggs released per gram of feces (EPG) of calves is strongly influenced by host genetics. The purpose of this study was to determine if host genetics also influenced immune recognition of parasite antigens in these same calves. Serum samples were taken at monthly intervals from calves during their first grazing season, from approximately 4 months after the onset of calving and were continued until weaning. Serum samples were analyzed for antibodies against Ostertagia ostertagi, Haemonchus placei, Cooperia oncophora, and Oesophagostomum radiatum. Significant rises in antibodies of the IgG1 class were seen against Ostertagia ostertagi, H. placei, and C. oncophora. In addition, rises in anti-Ostertagia antibodies of the IgG2 and IgM isotypes were also noted. During periods of elevated antibody responses, the sire of the individual calves was found to influence significantly the level of circulating antibody. The heritability of serum anti-parasite antibody levels was demonstrated to be between 70 and 80%, depending upon the time and antibody isotype. The antibody levels did not appear to be correlated with parasite EPG values. These results indicate that the ability of calves to recognize parasite antigens is strongly influenced by genetic factors, and that the genetic factors which control antibody responses may differ from those controlling EPG values.

Aging↗

[Effect of a single injection of doramectin on gastrointestinal nematode infections of sheep grazing on alpine pastures].

The persistent effect of doramectin injectable against gastrointestinal nematodes was investigated in a controlled field study with 70 sheep kept on alpine pastures in Switzerland. After grazing on home pastures for four weeks 50 lambs and 20 ewes were allocated to two equal groups according to age and body weight. At turnout to alpine pasture in June doramectin (0.3 mg/kg) was administered by intramuscular injection to 25 lambs and 10 ewes (Group D), whereas control sheep (Group K) remained untreated. Animals of both groups were kept on separate pastures (altitude: 1100 m) and were rotated between three paddocks during a total grazing period of 13 weeks. After doramectin treatment faecal examinations of Group D sheep showed a marked reduction of the trichostrongyle egg output which remained close to zero for eight weeks. During this period serum pepsinogen levels did not indicate the presence of a substantial immature worm burden in the abomasal mucosa. In the last five weeks of the alpine grazing period the trichostrongyle egg counts increased markedly in the lambs of Group D. Lambs of the control group developed moderate-to-high Haemonchus-infections, and eight animals of this group had to be treated with anthelmintics. Lambs of Group D had gained significantly (P < 0.05) more weight eight weeks after turnout whereas the mean bodyweight stagnated during the last five weeks of the grazing period. The results indicate, that the single administration of 0.3 mg/kg doramectin to lambs and ewes provided good protection against severe infections with gastrointestinal nematodes for a period of approximately eight weeks.

Animals↗

Gastrointestinal nematode infection in sheep--a review of the alternatives to anthelmintics in parasite control.

Efforts to curb production losses caused by nematode parasitism in sheep have led to the development of a number of control methods to complement or replace anthelmintics. The need for alternative control measures stems from the emergence of anthelmintic-resistant parasitic nematodes with reports of multi-class resistance to these drugs now emerging. A number of these control methods such as predacious microfungi, protein supplementation, plant extracts in feed and vaccines have demonstrated potential to control infection but require development and examination under natural conditions. Breeding for natural resistance to nematode infection has already shown success in controlling the disease under natural conditions. Selection for resistance is currently based on fecal egg count measurements but identification of genetic indicators of resistance will provide a more efficient method of selection. Current quantitative trait loci for nematode resistance include the MHC genes, interferon gamma gene, IgE gene and microsatellites on chromosome 1, 5 and 6. This paper reviews the current alternatives to anthelmintics to control infection, with an emphasis on breeding for host resistance and identification of genetic indicators of resistance.

Animals↗

A model for study of lungworm (Dictyocaulus sp.) and gastrointestinal nematode infection in young red deer (Cervus elaphus).

A model of sub-clinical parasitism in young red deer, using concurrent trickle infections of lungworm (Dictyocaulus sp.) and mixed gastro-intestinal (GI) nematodes of deer-origin was evaluated. 20 parasite-free deer calves were artificially reared indoors from 4 days of age. A further five calves were naturally reared on pasture with their dams, treated with anthelmintic and brought indoors at 3-4 months. At 4-4.5 months of age they were individually housed and allocated to five groups (n=5). Groups were dosed 3 x per week, for 9 weeks with 0, 100 and 500, 200 and 1000 (2 groups), 400 and 2000 infective larvae of lungworm and mixed GI nematodes, respectively, cultured from deer faeces. Liveweight and voluntary feed intake measurements and faecal and blood samples were taken weekly. In the fourth week following cessation of trickle infection, deer were euthanased and lung and GI nematodes recovered. Both lungworm and GI nematode infections became patent at Week 4 of infection. Maximum group arithmetic mean faecal egg counts were 100-190 epg. Maximum group arithmetic mean faecal lungworm larval counts were 58-123 lpg. Group arithmetic mean nematode counts at slaughter ranged from 439-806 for GI nematodes and 31-73 for lungworm, respectively. Despite low nematode counts, reduced liveweight gain, voluntary feed intake and serum albumin concentration, elevated serum pepsinogen, gastrin and globulin concentrations and elevated peripheral eosinophil counts and slight haemoconcentration, but no clinical signs, were observed. The reduction in liveweight gain was related to the reduction in voluntary feed intake (r2=0.83; p<0.088). Naturally-reared deer had similar liveweight gains, voluntary feed intake and nematode counts to artificially-reared deer. Thus, methods of infection to produce concurrent sub-clinical lungworm and GI nematode burdens for study of sub-clinical parasitism in young deer have been defined.

Animals↗

Efficacy of ivermectin against naturally acquired and experimentally induced nematode infections in sheep.

The activity of ivermectin against common nematode parasites of sheep was examined in 2 experiments. In the 1st experiment, 14 sheep with naturally acquired infections were assigned to 2 groups of 7 sheep each. Sheep in 1 group were treated with 200 micrograms of ivermectin/kg of body weight and the remainder served as nontreated controls. In the 2nd experiment, 15 sheep with experimentally supplemented infections (including a benzimidazole-resistant strain of Haemonchus contortus) were assigned to 3 groups of 5 each. The 1st group was treated with 200 micrograms of ivermectin/kg, the 2nd was treated with 88 mg of thiabendazole/kg, and the 3rd served as nontreated controls. Ten to 12 days after treatment, all sheep were euthanatized and necropsied, and the parasites they harbored were recovered and identified. Efficacy of ivermectin was excellent (greater than 96%) against Dictyocaulus filaria, H contortus, Ostertagia circumcinta, Marshallagia marshalli, Trichostrongylus axei, T colubriformis, and T vitrinus. Treatment was not as uniformly effective for Nematodirus spathiger (73% to 85%), N filicollis (80% to 96%), Cooperia curticei (92% to 100%), immature nematodes (92% to 100%), and early 4th-stage larvae (46% to 100%). Efficacy of thiabendazole was poor for H contortus (42%) and early 4th-stage larvae in the abomasum (52%), but approached 100% for most of the other parasites.

Animals↗

Efficacy of two formulations ('injectable' and 'pour on') of moxidectin against gastrointestinal nematode infections in grazing cattle.

The efficacy of moxidectin, 'injectable' and 'pour on', against gastrointestinal nematodes was determined in cattle in two separate field trials (Trial I in 1990 and Trial II in 1991) with respectively 88 and 94 young grazing cattle of either sex. The efficacy was measured on the basis of the reduction of the egg output and of the evaluation of the results from larval differentiation. Animals in Group MI received 0.2 mg kg-1 body weight (b.w.) moxidectin injectable solution in Trial I on Day 0. Group CI was not given any medication on Day 0, but 0.2 mg kg-1 b.w. ivermectin injectable solution (Ivomec) was applied after 2 weeks to prevent clinical disease. In Trial II, animals in Group MP were treated with pour on moxidectin (0.5 mg kg-1 b.w.) on Day 0. Animals in Group CP serving as controls for Group MP during the first part of the trial received the same formulation at the same dose 2 weeks after treatment of Group MP. When the egg output was compared within treated groups, the egg count reduction was very similar post treatment (p.t.) with both formulations being 96.3% and 96.6% on Day 7 after the application of injectable moxidectin or pour on moxidectin, respectively, and 90.7% and 92.5% on Day 28 p.t. When egg counts of treated and control animals were compared (corrected for the e.p.g. values before treatment) the egg count reduction was 95.4% and 91.5% on Day 7 and 92.9% and 84.8% on Day 14 p.t. with either the injectable or pour on formulation. Pour on moxidectin seemed to be more effective against Ostertagia spp. than against Cooperia spp. Animals treated with injectable moxidectin gained significantly more body weight (4.2 kg per animal) than the controls from Day -7 to Day +14, while no significant difference in weight gain was achieved within 2 weeks after treatment with pour on moxidectin.

Administration, Topical↗

Epidemiological study of nematode infections in a grazing beef cow-calf herd in Mississippi.

The epidemiology of gastrointestinal nematodes was studied in a spring calving herd in northeast Mississippi. Pregnant, mixed breed beef cows (n = 15) were placed on a 10 ha fescue/bermuda grass pasture from January 1990-February 1992. In both years, calves were born from February-April and were weaned and removed from the pasture in mid-October. Fecal egg counts (EPG) and generic composition of nematodes in fecal cultures were determined monthly for cows and calves. Estimation of numbers of third-stage larvae on herbage also was determined monthly from March 1990-February 1992. Worm-free tracer calves (2-3 per month) were allowed to graze for 1 month periods and slaughtered for counting and identification of gastrointestinal nematodes. The mean monthly EPG of cows was consistently low (0.23-3.41); EPG of calves increased from spring through fall of both years. Five nematode genera were identified from fecal cultures of cows and calves. Ostertagia and Trichostrongylus spp. were the predominant nematodes in cows, while Ostertagia and Cooperia spp. were predominant in calves. Numbers of third-stage larvae on herbage declined from spring through summer and remained at low levels until late fall/winter, when numbers increased markedly. Eleven nematode species were identified from tracers, but O. ostertagi and Cooperia spp. predominated in most months. Seasonal changes in tracer worm counts coincided with similar changes in counts of third-stage larvae on herbage. Inhibition of O. ostertagi occurred in tracer calves during spring, but did not give rise to a marked increase in egg production in cows during fall.

Animals↗

The effect of supplementary feeding on the resilience and resistance of browsing Criollo kids against natural gastrointestinal nematode infections during the rainy season in tropical Mexico.

The objective was to determine the effect of supplementary feeding on the resilience and resistance of Criollo kids against natural gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infections, when browsing native vegetation during the wet season in tropical Mexico. Thirty-four 2-month old Criollo kids, raised nematode free, were included at weaning in a 22-week trial. The kids were placed into four groups. Two groups of 8 kids were offered 100g/day soybean and sorghum meal (26%:74%, respectively fresh basis) (treated/supplemented (T-S) and infected/supplemented (I-S)). Two groups remained with no supplement for the duration of the trial (infected/non-supplemented (I-NS) (n = 10) and treated/non-supplemented (T-NS) (n = 8)). Kids in groups T-S and T-NS were drenched with 0.2mg of moxidectin/kg body weight orally (Cydectin, Fort Dodge) every 28 days. Groups I-S and I-NS were naturally infected with GIN. The animals browsed native vegetation (for an average of 7h/day) together with a herd of 120 naturally infected adult goats. Cumulative live weight gain (CLWG), packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), total plasma protein and plasma albumin were recorded every 14 days as measurements of resilience. Resistance parameters (faecal egg counts (FEC) and peripheral eosinophil counts (PEC)) were also measured. Bulk faecal cultures were made for each group every 28 days. Every month a new pair of tracer kids assessed the infectivity of the vegetation browsed by the animals. The T-S group had the highest CLWG, PCV and Hb compared to the other three groups (P < 0.001). The I-S and T-NS group had similar mean CLWG and PCV (P > 0.05), while the I-NS group had the poorest CLWG, PCV and Hb (P < 0.001). The PEC of supplemented kids (I-S and T-S) was higher than in the I-NS and T-NS kids (P < 0.05). No effect of supplementary feeding was found in the FEC. Tracer kids and faecal cultures showed that kids suffered mixed infections with Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus colubriformis and Oesophagostomum columbianum. Supplementary feeding improved resilience of browsing Criollo kids against natural GIN infections and was economically feasible. Improved resistance was also suggested by the PEC but was not confirmed in the FEC.

Animal Feed↗

Immune response against protozoal and nematodal infection in mice with underlying Schistosoma mansoni infection.

Schistosoma mansoni infection induces T helper (Th) 2-dominant immune response in mice not only to S. mansoni itself but also to other coexisting antigens. In the present study, we challenged S. mansoni-infected mice with the intestinal nematode, Strongyloides venezuelensis, and the intracellular protozoa, Leishmania major to see whether such Th2-dominant immune responses alter susceptibility of the host to other concomitant parasitic infections. The recovery of S. venezuelensis adult worms from the small intestine was significantly decreased by S. mansoni infection, and the protection to S. venezuelensis appeared to act on migrating larvae. Antibodies elicited by S. mansoni infection showed cross-binding to third-stage larvae antigen of S. venezuelensis. On the other hand, S. mansoni infection did not affect the outcome of L. major infection in both susceptible BALB/c and resistant C57BL/6 mice. Popliteal lymph node cells of BALB/c mice expressed mRNA for interleukin (IL)-10 rather than IL-4, regardless of S. mansoni infection, and those of C57BL/6 mice expressed IFN-gamma mRNA upon L. major antigen stimulation, even in S. mansoni-infected mice. Our findings suggest that Th2-dominant immune response induced by S. mansoni protects mice from intestinal helminthic infections, whereas they do not always modulate protozoal infections.

Animals↗

Efficacy of ivermectin against nematodes infecting field populations of snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) in Yukon, Canada.

From July 1990 to February 1991, nematode numbers in free-ranging snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) at Kluane Lake, southwestern Yukon, Canada, were manipulated by subcutaneous injection (0.4 mg/kg) of ivermectin. Three field experiments were conducted to determine the degree of helminth loss associated with a single administration of ivermectin; the length of time that ivermectin was effective in reducing worm numbers; and the effect of repeated ivermectin administration in reducing worm numbers. Numbers of the nematodes, Protostrongylus boughtoni and Nematodirus triangularis were reduced by approximately 80% 2 wk after treatment with a single dose of ivermectin, and were still significantly lower than controls at 4 wk. However, beyond 2 wk, ivermectin did not affect the rate of acquisition of new worms of either species. All treated groups contained one or more hares in which numbers of P. boughtoni and N. triangularis were not reduced. In addition, ivermectin had no effect on numbers of Trichuris leporis or Passalurus sp. Overall, ivermectin was not as effective against the nematodes of free-ranging hares as has been reported for nematodes of domestic and laboratory animals.

Analysis of Variance↗

Evaluation of three formulations of fenbendazole (10% suspension, 0.5% pellets, and 20% premix) against nematode infections in cattle.

Anthelmintic efficacies of 3 formulations of fenbendazole were evaluated in cattle naturally parasitized with nematodes: a 10% oral suspension, 0.5% pellets as a top dressing on feed, and a 20% premix. All formulations of fenbendazole were greater than 99% effective in removing adults of Haemonchus contortus, Ostertagia spp, Cooperia spp, and Oesophagostomum radiatum. Fenbendazole was greater than 96% effective in removing adults of Strongyloides papillosus and greater than 85% effective in the removal of Trichuris sp. Fenbendazole was greater than 96% effective against immature nematodes, which were thought to be primarily Cooperia spp. Adverse reactions were not observed in calves treated with the 3 formulations of fenbendazole.

Animals↗