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Internal Parasite
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
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
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
*sheep and goats harbor their own species of Eimeria (no cross infection)
Affected Animal:
cattle
sheep
goat
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
Affected Animals:
Cattle Goats Sheep
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.
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
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
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.