Husk Diseases

Dictyocaulus viviparus is the most common lungworm of cattle; the infection is also known as husk or parasitic bronchitis.Grazing cattle ingest the infective larvae from the pasture and within four weeks of ingesting these larvae, the cow or calf can be shedding millions of fresh larvae onto the pasture.Husk diseases are mainly seen in the late summer or autumn. Signs in cattle range from a mild cough and slightly increased breathing rate to severe and persistent coughing and difficulty breathing. In young stock the main effect is a depression in growth rates, leading to a longer finishing period or time to first service. In older cattle the disease can depress milk yields, compromise fertility and even kill animals.
Effective control strategies include vaccination, effective use of wormers and strategic grazing management.