Diagnosis & Treatment of Bovine Ostertagiasis

Diagnosis:

·         Clinical history:

o   Grazing history

o   Seasons

 

·         Clinical signs

·         Coproscopy: Fecal egg count

·         Biochemical test: Plasma pepsinogen level determination

o   fsg3.0IU tyrosin (normal level 1.0IU) in >2years old calves

·         Post mortem examination:

o   Putrid odor of abomasal content due to accumulation of bacteria and high P^H

o   Adult worm, reddish in color, 1cm in length, found on mucosal surface of abomasums

·         Pasture larval count from the grazing land:

o   Presence of 1000 larva/gram of dried grass indicate daily intake of larva through grazing by a cow is more than 10,000.

Treatment:

·         Treatment by Benzimidazoles (Albendazole, Fenbendazole or Oxfendazole),

Pro-enzimidazoles (Febantel, netobimin and Thiophanate), Levamisole or Avermectin/milbemycin eg. Ivermectin. The mentioned drugs are effective against both adult and larva.

·         Benzimidazole and avermectin also effective for arrested larva

·         Pro-benzimidazole works against arrested larva at high doses

·         After treatment, calf should be move to safe pasture to protect form reinfection.

Note: Ovine and caprine Ostertagiosis is similar to Bovine Ostertagiosis