Internal Parasite

are organisms that thrive within the body of the host without providing any benefit it. These parasites
can significantly impact the health of animals and are a common cause of illness

Lung Worm (Dictyocaulus spp. or Muellerius capillaris)

D.Filaria
Protostrongylus rufescens and Muellerius capillaris
Clinical Signs:
 Coughing
 Difficulty breathing
 Exacerbated by bacterial or viral infections
Diagnosis:
 Baermann technique is used to detect first- stage larvae in fecal samples.
 In some countries, an ELISA test is available to detect antibodies against Dictyocaulus viviparus.

 causes a disease condition called muelleriosis in goat

Affected Animals:
 Cattle
 Goats
 Sheep
 Llamas
 Alpacas
 Deer
 Horses
 Pigs
 Dogs
 Cats

Transmission:
 Ingestion of infective larvae from contaminated pasture
 Carrier animals serve as primary infection sources
Immunity and Persistence:
 Animals may develop immunity after infection
 Subclinical infections can persist, contributing to pasture contamination
 maintaining a balance between immunity and controlled exposure is essential for managing
lungworm infections in ruminants
Age Susceptibility:
 Severe infections common in young animals during first grazing season
 Older animals may experience recurrent disease upon re- exposure

 *Severe outbreaks in cattle, especially in areas with high rainfall or irrigation.

Prevention
 Grazing Management
 Environmental Hygiene
Minimize Exposure to Intermediate Hosts:
 Limit contact with snails, slugs, and other gastropods that can carry lungworm larvae.
 Be cautious when grazing animals in areas with high gastropod populations.

Treatment
 Broad-spectrum anthelmintics
 Antimicrobials for secondary bacterial infections
 Anti-inflammatory drugs as needed
Prophylactic Treatment
 regular administration of anthelmintic medication
 ivermectin
 doramectin
 moxidectin

Coccidia (Single-celled Protozoan Parasites Causing Coccidiosis)

Eimeria spp
Clinical Signs:
 vary from mild diarrhea to severe dehydration.
 decreased growth, dirty tails, hocks
Diagnosis:
 identifying oocysts in feces using salt or sugar flotation methods, direct intestinal smears, or a
McMaster counting chamber.
 postmortem findings
 farm history
Infection Route:
 Oral ingestion of infected oocysts.
 fecal contamination
 clinical disease develops 14-17days (with pathogenic infection level of oocysts)

 *sheep and goats harbor their own species of Eimeria (no cross infection)

Affected Animal:
 cattle
 sheep
 goat

POST MORTEM FINDINGS

 most reliable indicator
 white nodules on intestinal mucosa
 thickening of intestinal wall
 blood in rumen
COCCIDIOSIS
 Protozoal disease occurs when animals ingest large numbers of infective protozoa (oocysts),
overwhelming their immune systems.
 Prevalent in lambs and kids aged 1 to 6 months, especially around weaning due to stress.
 Intensively reared lambs and kids, whether housed or grazed, are most susceptible.
 Adults are generally resistant, though goats less so.
TWO TYPES
1. SUB-CLINICAL
 Low levels of infection cause reduction of growth and feed efficiency of lambs/kids.
 May not be any overt signs of disease.
 Probably greatest economic cost to sheep and goat industry.
2. CLINICAL
 Immune system overwhelmed by infection level.
 Clinical symptoms observed.
 Damage has been done.

Coccidia (Single-celled Protozoan Parasites Causing Coccidiosis)

Immunity:
 young animals are immune to coccidia due to protective role of maternal antibodies
 immunity can be acquired by consistent exposure (innate and adaptive immune responses)
 sheep develop strong immunity, goat less so
 adults are highly resistant, although they harbor less no. of parasite
Prevention
 good animal husbandry (avoid mixing different age)
 anti coccidial theraphy
- feeds, mineral,water, milk replacer, drench
 good nutrition (adequate colostrum, good quality milk replacer, avoid mineral deficiencies)
 reduction of stress factors(Avoid hotspots)

TREATMENT
 Amprolium (Corid ®) is available over-the-counter, but water soluble sulfa antibiotics must now
be obtained from a veterinarian (Rx).
 Consult with your veterinarian for proper dosages and withdrawal periods.
Drug: Sulfonamides (sulfa antibiotics) Amprolium

No medications are FDA-approved to treat coccidiosis in sheep/goats; extra label drug use (VCPR) is
required

Lambs/kids with clinical disease should be individually treated (drenched), usually for 5 days. Sick
animals won't likely drink enough water.
SUPPORTIVE THERAPHY FOR LAMB/ KIDS
 Fluid therapy
 Antidiarrheals.
 Probiotics (yogurt)
 Nutritional support
 Low stress environment
 Palatable feed

 Sometimes damage is permanent

Coccidia (Single-celled Protozoan Parasites Causing Coccidiosis)

Hygiene and Environment:
Regularly clean water tanks to prevent fecal contamination. Remove feces from feed bunks before each
feeding.
Disinfect holding areas between groups of animals.
Avoid overcrowding to reduce stress and transmission.
Scrape pens regularly to minimize manure buildup.
Provide clean bedding in stalls if applicable.

Coccidia (Single-celled Protozoan Parasites Causing Coccidiosis)

Coccidiostats:
Consider using coccidiostats in feed, water, or salt as recommended by your veterinarian.
These agents help control coccidia and reduce the risk of infection.
must be administered 3-4 wks ahead of expected onset clinical signs
Sunlight and Desiccation:
Expose feed and water areas to sunlight to reduce the presence of oocysts.
Desiccate feed to limit moisture and oocyst survival.
Vaccines:
Available for poultry only, due to species diversity and immunobiology complexity.

Stomach Worm (Haemonchus contortus) Commonly called “barber pole worm”

Clinical Signs:
Weight loss
Diarrhea
Anemia with pale mucous membranes of the eyes and mouth

Affected Animals:
Cattle Goats Sheep

Stomach Worm (Haemonchus contortus) Commonly called “barber pole worm”

Clinical Signs:
“bottle jaw” (edematous swelling under the jaw)
Poor hair growth
Lethargy (lack of energy) Generalized weakness and eventually death.
Stomach Worm (Haemonchus contortus) Commonly called “barber pole worm”
Life cycle:
Adult Haemonchus worms live in the abomasum, where they mate. The females lay up to 5-10,000 eggs
a day that pass out onto the pasture in faeces.
Larvae hatch from the eggs and migrate up the pasture to be ingested by goats as they graze.
In the abomasum, the larvae mature and the adults attach themselves to the lining of the stomach to
feed on blood.

Stomach Worm (Haemonchus contortus) Commonly called “barber pole worm”

Transmission:
The barber pole worm is spread from animal to animal through oral contact with contaminated manure.
Diagnosis:
Fecal Egg Count (FEC): Quantitative analysis of fecal samples through a fecal egg count (FEC) can provide
an estimate of the number of parasite eggs per gram (EPG) of feces.
FAMACHA Scoring: In herds with Haemonchus infestations, FAMACHA scoring may be used to assess the
severity of anemia

Stomach Worm (Haemonchus contortus)

Treatment Options:
Give them deworming medication and supportive care,
such as fluids and blood transfusions. Dewormers
1. Ivermectin
2. Benzimidazoles (e.g., Albendazole) 3. Levamisole
4. Moxidectin
Common methods for administering dewormers; 1. Oral drenching
2. Injectables
Boost their immune system and utilize annual forages in your pasture systems and till the ground
between crops to kill or disrupt the larvae and eggs.
Remember that these dosages should be administered only after seeking appropriate veterinary advice.

Stomach Worm (Haemonchus contortus)

Preventing and Managing:
Pasture Management Nutritional Support Cleanliness
Strategic Deworming Avoid Overcrowding Vaccination
Stomach Worm (Haemonchus contortus)
Vaccines:
Barbervax® is not a knockdown product, but rather a protective immunising treatment against barber's
pole worm. Barbervax used under the prescription and supervision of a veterinarian, has the potential to
improve the control of barber’s pole worm in goats.

Liver flukes (Fasciolosis)

Clinical Signs:
Overall weight loss/reduced body condition.
Anaemia caused by liver damage
as a result of the activity of Deer
adult fluke once in the bile duct. Bottle jaw.
Diarrhea
Lethargy
Loss of liver function pale eye membranes
Affected Animals:
Cattle Goats Sheep
Elk
Horses
Other mammals

Liver flukes (Fasciolosis)

Life Cycle and Transmission:
Liver flukes have a complex life cycle with various stages.
Egg Stage Miracidia Stage Snail Stage Ingestion by Host Liver Damage

Liver flukes (Fasciolosis)

Liver Damage:
Once inside the host’s liver, flukes tunnel through the tissue, causing significant damage.
The liver becomes full of tunnels filled with blood clots and pus (a thick yellowish or greenish liquid
produce in infected tissue) leading to liver rot.

Liver flukes (Fasciolosis)

Diagnostic Methods:
Clinical Signs and History Laboratory Tests
1. Blood Samples
2. Fecal Samples Post-Mortem Examination 1. Necropsy

Liver flukes (Fasciolosis)

Treatment Options: Albendazole
Triclabendazole
Flukicide drenches
Regular deworming and vaccination
Prevention Measure:
Drain or Fence Wet Areas: Since liver flukes thrive in wet and poorly drained regions, minimizing
exposure to such areas is essential.
Avoid Grazing High-Risk Areas: During at-risk periods, refrain from allowing goats to graze in marshes or
boggy pastures.
Regular Monitoring: Keep a close eye on your goats and promptly address any signs of fluke infestation.
Remember to consult a veterinarian for accurate dosing recommendations and proper management
Liver flukes (Fasciolosis)
Vaccines:
Currently, there is no commercially available
vaccine specifically designed to prevent liver fluke infections in goats.

Remember, lung worm, coccidia, stomach worm and liver flukes can be one of serious health concern
for goats, so proper management and monitoring are essential to keep these parasites in check.
Prevention is key to keeping your animals healthy and avoiding the deadly impact in your animals.
INTERNAL PARASITES IN CATTLE
ROUNDWORMS (Nematodes)
Clinical signs:
Reduced weight gain
Diarrhea
Poor appetite Coughing Decreased milk production
Affected animals:
Calves Growing Cattle Adult Cattle Breeding Cattle Lactating Cows Bulls
Transmission:
Environmental Contamination Direct Transmission Vertical Transmission
ROUNDWORMS (Nematodes)
Treatment:
Benzimidazoles Macrocyclic lactones Levamisole
Prevention:
1.Pasture Management
Practice rotational grazing to prevent overgrazing and allow for adequate pasture rest periods, which can
help reduce pasture contamination with nematode larvae.
Avoid overcrowding of cattle on pasture to minimize the buildup of parasite populations. Consider
alternative forage crops or pasture species that are less favorable to nematode survival.

2. Deworming Protocols
Develop and implement a strategic deworming program in consultation with a veterinarian, taking into
account factors such as herd size, age of cattle, and environmental conditions.
Rotate between different classes of anthelmintic drugs to minimize the development of drug resistance.
Perform fecal egg counts on a regular basis to monitor parasite burdens and assess the effectiveness of
deworming treatments.
3. Manure Management
Implement proper manure management practices, such as regular removal of manure from feeding
areas and pasture rotation to minimize exposure to infective larvae. Composting manure can help reduce
nematode populations by raising temperatures to levels that kill parasites.

species of nematodes that can infect cattle

Coccodiosis
Clinical signs:
Diarrhea, which may be bloody or contain mucus Dehydration Weight loss Reduced growth rates
Affected animals:
Calves
Other Ruminants Adult Cattle Poultry
Wildlife
Transmission:
Environmental Contamination Clinical Disease Transmission to Other Animals
Treatment:
Anticoccidial Medications Veterinary Consultation Environmental Management
Prevention:
1. Maintain clean and dry housing conditions to reduce environmental contamination with coccidian
oocysts.
2.Practice good hygiene and sanitation, including regular removal of manure from feeding areas and
bedding.
3.Avoid overcrowding of cattle and minimize stressors such as sudden dietary changes or transportation,
which can increase susceptibility to coccidiosis.
4. Consider the use of coccidiostats, such as ionophores, in feed or water as a preventive measure in
high-risk situations, such as during periods of high calf density or when introducing new cattle to a herd.

Cooperia punctata
Cooperia punctata: Overview
Parasitic roundworm
Belongs to family Trichostrongylidae 5-9mm long
prevalent in warm regions
Clinical Signs Diarrhea
Weight loss
Decreased appetite Reduced growth rates Anemia (in severe cases) Death (in severe cases)
Treatment
Anthelmintic drugs Benzimidazoles Macrocyclic lactones Imidazothiazoles
Prevention
Rotational grazing
Avoid overstocking
Maintain clean feeding areas Strategic deworming
Vaccines
No commercial vaccines available
Ongoing research for vaccine development

Monizia Expansa (Tapeworm)

Tapeworm: Overview
Parasitic flatworm
Causative agent: Various species in the class Cestoda 600 cm long
Clinical Signs
Abdominal discomfort/pain Nausea
Weight loss
Digestive disturbances
Allergic reactions (in some cases)

Tapeworm
Diagnosis
Identification of tapeworm segments or eggs in feces Observation of Gravid Proglotids
Infection Route
Ingestion of tapeworm eggs or larvae
Contaminated food or water
Intermediate hosts (e.g., fleas, rodents) for some species
Affected Animals Dogs
Cats
Livestock (e.g., cattle, sheep) Wildlife
Humans

Treatment
Anthelmintic drugs (e.g., praziquantel, albendazole) Surgical removal (in severe cases)
Management of underlying conditions (if applicable)
Prevention:
Proper hygiene and sanitation practices
Regular deworming of pets and livestock
Control of intermediate hosts (e.g., flea control in pets) Inspection of meat before consumption (for
human)
Vaccines:
No commercial vaccines available for tapeworms Research ongoing for vaccine development, particularly
in veterinary medicine
INTERNAL PARASITES FOR SHEEP (SARCOCYSTIS SPP) & PARAMPHISTOMUM SSP. (Rumen Fluke)
SARCOCYSTIS SPP
Clinical Signs:
Muscle Pain and Stiffness Reduced Performance Abortions and Stillbirths Mild Symptoms
Affected animals:
Sheep Deer
Wild boars Cattle Rodents Birds Reptiles
Treatment:
Sulfadimethoxine - Disrupts the growth and reproduction of bacteria and protozoa.
Toltrazuril - Toltrazuril acts by inhibiting the development of coccidian parasites, particularly the asexual
stages (schizonts), thereby preventing their replication and spread within the host.

SARCOCYSTIS SPP
Prevention:
Pasture Management: Quarantine and Biosecurity: Nutritional Support: Environmental Cleanliness:
Maintain Good Nutrition and Overall Health:

SARCOCYSTIS SPP
Vaccine:
As of now, there’s no vaccine available for Sarcocystis spp

PARAMPHISTOMUM SPP. (RUMEN FLUKE)

Clinical Signs:
Liver Damage Dehydration
Diarrhea
Decreased Milk Production Weight Loss
Reduced Appetite

PARAMPHISTOMUM SPP. (RUMEN FLUKE)

Affected animals:
Cattle Sheep Goats Deer

PARAMPHISTOMUM SPP. (RUMEN FLUKE)

Treatment:
Triclabendazole - Triclabendazole is effective against both adult and immature stages (metacercariae) of
Paramphistomum spp. It targets these stages of the parasite's life cycle, leading to their death.
Oxyclozanide - Oxyclozanide primarily targets adult stages of trematodes, including Paramphistomum
spp. It interferes with the metabolism and energy production of the parasites, ultimately leading to their
death.

PREVENTION
Pasture Management:
1.Implement rotational grazing.
2.Avoid grazing in wet or marshy areas.
Animal Husbandry Practices:
1.Maintain good hygiene and other areas.
2.Minimize stress and overcrowding.
Water Management:
1.Provide some clean water 2.Replace the unused water
Quarantine and Testing:
1.Quarantine new animals. 2.Perform regular fecal
examinations.