Abstract
DICTYOCAULOSIS isusually adisease ofcattle onpasture (Radostits andothers 1994), resulting fromthedevelopment offirst-stage Dictyocaulus viviparus larvae infaeces tothe infective third stage between JuneandNovember onnorthernEuropean pastures (Urquhart andothers 1987). Housed cattle withdictyocaulosis areusually recently housed or,if permanently housed, have beenfedfreshly cut, contaminated grass (Omenas1981, Zurita andothers 1987). However, Oakley (1979) reported disease inhoused calves whichhad beenonpasture atleast twomonths previously, supposedly duetotheresumed development ofhypobiotic larvae. Dictyocaulosis inpermanently housed cattle notfedfresh grass israrely reported. Jarrett andothers (1954) reported disease where such cattle weremixed withclinically affected animalsafter thelatter werehoused. Holmes(1999) reported dictyocaulosis in11-week-old dairy-bred calves inwhich infection mayhavebeenacquired atgrass within 24hours of birth orfromother calves after housing. Jorgenson andothers(1985) described dictyocaulosis inhoused calves that were suckling their damswhenthefungus Pilobilus, aknown vector forthespread oflungworm larvae, wasfound inthe building. This short communication describes dictyocaulosis affecting20calves aged five toeight months which, with oneexception, hadbeenhoused atorwithin 24hours ofbirth. They hadnotbeenfedfresh grass. The180-cow dairy unithome-bred replacements with surplus calves sold asstores. Nineteen ofthecalves wereborn between June27,2001andSeptember 14,2001. Theoldest calves spent upto24hours atgrass withtheir damsbefore separation andhousing, while theyoungest wereborninside, butaccurate records werenotavailable. Theywerebucket-fed fresh milk, proprietary concentrates andhay, then weaned at eight to10weeks ofageandfedhayandproprietary concentrates. Somerecently calved cowswerepenned ontheopposite side ofagate fromthecalves. Ahealthy calf (calf 15)born inApril 2001andatgrass during October wasadded tothe grouplater that monthwithout having hadanthelmintic treatment. Dictyocaulosis wasconfirmed postmortem inan
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
