Lung nematodes of sheep (Ovis aries) in Iceland - prevalence, intensity and geographic distribution in 1992 and 1993

During the slaughter period in autumn 1992 and 1993 lungs and the gastrointestinal tract was collected from a single lamb originating from 96 sheep farms, selected to reflect the distribution of farms in Iceland. The results on the gastrointestinal helminths have already been published. The lungs were kept frozen until analysed in 2019. Nematodes were directly searched for in the lungs of 84 lambs. Results on larval counts were handed over to the present authors for comparison purposes. Three lungworm nematode species were detected: Muellerius capillaris (total prevalence 35.1%), Protostrongylus sp. (2.4%), and Dictyocaulus filaria (16.7%). M. capillaris was found in lambs from all parts of Iceland except from certain areas in the north and northeast. Protostrogylus sp. was detected on two adjacent farms in the north. D. filaria was frequently found in lambs from farms in the southern and western parts, whereas sporadic cases were found in north and east Iceland. As relatively few lambs were examined, the distribution area of sheep lungworm in the early 1990s is regarded to have been more extensive than indicated in the article.

Coprological survey of protostrongylid infections in antelopes from Souss-Massa National Park (Morocco)

SummaryProtostrongylids, small nematode lungworms, are an integral part of the wild ruminant helminth community, which can damage animals’ health when they are held in captivity or semi-captive conditions. The Sahelo-Saharan antelope species dorcas gazelle (Gazella dorcas), the scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah), and the addax (Addax nasomacculatus), reintroduced to Souss-Massa National Park in Morocco, could be host to many species of Protostrongylids. This study was conducted from January to July 2015 to identify infecting parasite species, and determine their prevalence and abundance in all three antelope species. A total of 180 individual fecal samples were collected, morphologically examined by the Baermann technique, and molecularly identified by PCR amplification and sequencing of the second internal transcribed spacer region of the rDNA (ITS-2).Two parasite species were found in the three antelope populations: Muellerius capillaris and Neostrongylus linearis. The prevalence scores recorded for M. capillaris were 98.40 % in the addax, 96.70 % in dorcas gazelle, and 28.40 % in the oryx. The prevalence rates of N. linearis were 60 % in the addax, 23.40 % in dorcas gazelle, and 90 % in the oryx. Excreted larvae were quantified by LPG (larvae per gram) counting: for M. capillaris, the LPG mean values were 92.94 in the addax, 133.09 in dorcas gazelle, and 1.48 in the oryx; and for N. linearis, the LPG mean values were 6.02 in the addax, 1.37 in dorcas gazelle, and 32.81 in the oryx. These findings indicate that the three species of antelopes are infected with Muellerius capillaris and Neostrongylus linearis to varying degrees in intensity and prevalence.

First record of Cyclospora and Cryptosporidium species in the Himalayan Goral {Naemorhedus goral (Hardwicke, 1825)} from Nepal

Objectives: This study was carried out to detect the various gastrointestinal parasites in the fecal samples of the Himalayan goral Naemorhedus goral (Hardwicke, 1825) from a forest patch of Rumsi area, the Seti River basin, Tanahun district, Nepal. Results: A total of 17 fecal samples (89.47%) were positive for different parasites in which the prevalence of protozoa was 52.63%, and that of helminths was 73.68%. The positive rates of different parasites showed the following orders as Entamoeba spp. (52.63%), Spirocerca spp. (52.63%), Angiostrongylus (36.84%), Cryptosporidium (26.31%), Cyclospora (26.31%), Strongyle (26.31%), Eimeria (10.52%), Trichostrongylus (10.52%), Muellerius capillaris (10.52%), and Blastocystis (5.26%). Although all of the above parasites are firstly reported from the fecal samples of goral in Nepal, the presence of Cyclospora and Cryptosporidium species suggests that these coccidia may directly affect the survival of the Himalayan goral. Further molecular evidences of causal association with Cyclosporiasis and Cryptosporidiosis should be established in these animals.

Comparison of Lungworm Infection in a Herd of Young and Dairy Goats at an Organic Farm

The prevalence and intensity of infection of the lungworm Muellerius capillaris in dairy and young goats were evaluated at one organic farm in the Czech Republic. A total of 605 faecal samples were collected from rectum of thirty selected dairy and thirty young goats; each individual was examined monthly throughout a year. Data were statistically evaluated to verify the existence of differences in values of larvae count per gram (LPG) in dairy and young goats. Further, dairy goats were divided into three groups depending on the number of lactations and the differences in LPG values between groups were statistically evaluated. The species M. capillaris was the only lung parasite identified during our study with an overall prevalence 87.2 % and 93.1 % for young goats and dairy goats, respectively. The difference in the larvae count between young and dairy goats was not statistically significant. The comparison of larvae counts in goat groups depending on the number of lactation showed significant differences between dairy goats on the first and second lactation and between goats on the second and third lactation (P < 0.05) contrary to larvae count between goats on the first and third lactation.

Seasonal variation of lungworm infestation of ewes at Sidi Bouzid slaughterhouse (Central Tunisia)

Les strongyloses respiratoires sont parmi les plus importantes maladies affectant les ovins élevés dans divers systèmes d’élevage de nombreux pays. En Tunisie, la lutte contre ces parasites est conduite par les éleveurs sans aucun fondement scientifique. Une enquête a été réalisée dans l’abattoir du gouvernorat de Sidi Bouzid (centre du pays) afin d’évaluer la prévalence d’infestation des moutons par les strongles respiratoires. L’étude a duré 12 mois et a concerné 720 des brebis abattues. La matière fécale de chaque brebis a été recueillie et examinée par la technique de Baermann. Soixante-huit échantillons étaient infestés par des larves de nématodes pulmonaires (9,4 ± 2,1 %). La population était dominée par Protostrongylus rufescens (4,4 ± 1,5 %) suivie de Dictyocaulus filaria (2,6 ± 1,2 %), Cystocaulus ocreatus et Neostrongylus linearis (1,3 ± 0,8 %), et enfin Muellerius capillaris (0,3 ± 0,4 %), alors que les infestations mixtes concernaient 0,4 ± 0,5 % des échantillons. L’infestation par les strongles a été observée dans tous les groupes d’âge sans différence significative (p = 0,64). Il n’y a pas eu, non plus, de différence d’infestation significative entre les brebis de races Barbarine (10,8 ± 3,6 %) et Queue fine de l’Ouest (8,5 ± 2,6 % ; p = 0,31). La prévalence la plus faible a été enregistrée au printemps (6,7 ± 3,6 %) et la plus élevée en hiver (11,7 ± 4,8 %), mais la différence entre les saisons n’était pas significative (p = 0,32). Cette étude concernant la dynamique d’activité des strongles pulmonaires devrait être complétée par des suivis permettant de déterminer l’importance économique de ces infestations, afin d’offrir une base solide à la mise en place de programmes de lutte spécifiques contre ces parasites en Tunisie.

The influence of the extent of infestation by helminths upon changes in body weight of sheep in Ukraine

Among the following breeds of sheep, Merino, Bleu du Maine, Bluefaced Leicester, Dorper, Clan Forest, Suffolk, Texel and Beltex, helminths of two classes (Nematoda and Cestoda) have been registered in Ukraine (Dnipropetrovsk oblast). Among the nematodes there were: parasites of the digestive system Haemonchus contortus (Rudolphi, 1803), Strongyloides papillosus (Wedl, 1856), Nematodirus sp., Trichuris sp. and parasites of the respiratory system Muellerius capillaris (Muller, 1889). In the excrements of small ruminants, eggs of Moniezia expansa (Rudolphi, 1805) (Cestoda) – helminths of the small intestine, were found. Among all studied animals we found S. papillosus. 58.2% of sheep were infested with H. contortus. The lowest indicators of invasion extensivity were registered for parasitism of Trichuris sp. and M. capillaries. Extensivity of Nematodirus invasion did not exceed 16.3%. This indicator for cestodiasis, specifically monieziasis, among sheep was 25,5%. The range of fluctuation in intensivity of nematode invasion was within 7 to 860 eggs/g of excrement. This indicator for Cestoda invasion did not exceed 350 eggs/g. The highest indicators of average invasion were registered for parasitism by S. papillosus and H. contortus. The lowest average indicators of intensity were found for Trichuris. For Nematoda and Muellerius they were 25.0 and 88.9 individuals/g of feces correspondingly. The greatest influence on changes of body weight in sheep was caused by nematodes of the digestive tract Trichuris sp. and of the respiratory organs M. capillaris. The indicators of Trichuris infection level are the lowest in comparison with other registered helminthiases.

First record of Muellerius capillaris (Nematoda, Protostrongylidae) in northwestern Argentina

Seven flocks of different composition of goat and/or sheep were evaluated for the presence of Muellerius capillaris (Mueller 1889) in sites of different climatic conditions and under different management practices in northwestern Argentina. The nematode was recovered and identified in four goat flocks and two mixed goat and sheep flocks. Three goat flocks and both mixed goat and sheep flocks were located in Lerma Valley (Salta), with the other goat flock located in Quebrada de Humahuaca (Jujuy). M. capillaris was not detected in the Puna of Jujuy (3500 m a.s.l.). First-stage larvae were recovered from fecal samples using the Baermann technique. Lungs from six goats revealed numerous small pulmonary nodules and areas of emphysema, as well as a small number of M. capillaris adults. This is the first report of M. capillaris in Argentina.