Age resistance in calves to Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia oncophora

A. Kloosterman*, H. W. Ploeger, K. Frankena

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    Abstract

    Calves were infected repeatedly during a period of 6 weeks with Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia oncophora, at an age of 3, 6 or 9 months. The inoculations were performed during three periods, February-March, May-June and August-September, to account for possible seasonal effects or effects of larval batches. Observations were done on faecal egg output, antibody titres and weight gains. Calves were slaughtered for post mortem examinations 9 weeks after the start of infections. The influence of age on worm populations and egg output was significant for C. oncophora but not for O. ostertagi. The effect of season or larval batch on worm populations was significant for O. ostertagi but not for C. oncophora. The correlations between worm numbers and several other parameters found for Cooperia were strongly indicative of a process of worm expulsion taking place at the stage of infection (9 weeks after the start of infections) when post mortem examinations were done. Such correlations were absent for Ostertagia. It is concluded that within the range of ages examined here (the range to which first season grazing calves belong), there is no influence of age on Ostertagia populations but a clear effect of age on Cooperia. This difference strongly influences the total faecal egg output of grazing calves and its interpretation.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)101-113
    Number of pages13
    JournalVeterinary Parasitology
    Volume39
    Issue number1-2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 1991

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Age resistance in calves to Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia oncophora'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this