Synonyms

No known synonym

Name of the disease in English

Ascariasis of cattle

The disease in brief

Infestation of calves is more common in suckler farming than in dairy farming due to the proximity between mother and calf, which favors transmission. This parasite remains uncommon and of secondary importance, except in special cases.

Cycle: Infestation by Toxacara vitulorum is done in two ways: 

  – by infesting larvae from eggs released into the calves’ environment by infested adults; these infesting larvae pass the intestinal barrier, migrate to the liver and then the lungs via the bloodstream; they then pass into the pulmonary alveoli and go up the airway to be re-swallowed towards the intestine;

  – by larvae previously encysted in cows, which wake up and pass into the colostrum and milk in the first 10 days of life; these larvae develop directly in the intestine without blood migration.

Clinic & diagnosis

The disease can be suspected by presenting with common or various diarrhea that occurs:

-on lean calves under 6 months old,

-On calves that show a small, slightly noisy cough that “comes from deep down”

-if long worms were found in the calf's excrement (size varies greatly from 6 to 30 cm)

Typical sign of the disease

No description

Pictures

See below

Diagnostic formulas

No description

Differential diagnosis

-Coccidiosis PA20.4

-Strongyloidosis PA14.1

-Giardiasis VX22.2

Confirm a suspicion?

A stool sample allows a coproscopic examination which will reveal the presence of large numbers of very recognizable ascaris eggs.

Prognosis and treatment

Many molecules are available: Levamisole, benzimidazoles and macrocyclic lactones are active against ascarids.
-If necessary, supplement with a gastrointestinal dressing based on kaolin, smectite, pectin or aluminum salicylate.

Prevention

Infestation by Toxacara has declined considerably in the majority of farms due to greater use of anti-parasitic treatments. Prevention of this parasitosis must, however, take into account the high resistance of the eggs of Toxacara in the external environment; it will therefore be necessary to maintain it for several years to get rid of the parasite.

References

-Veterinary Medicine-Pocket companion -9th Edition BLOOD DC-page 482