Pathophysiological and parasitological studies on a concurrent infection of Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia oncophora in calves

Abstract

Calves which had received daily concurrent infections of 2000 Ostertagia ostertagi and 10,000 Cooperia oncophora infective larvae over a 42-day period displayed a range of clinical signs typical of acute parasitic gastroenteritis including inappetence, weight loss, hypoalbuminaemia and diarrhoea. There were consistent and significant depressions in both digestive efficiency and nitrogen retention. Radioisotopic studies revealed marked disturbances in protein metabolism which were associated with high losses of plasma proteins into the gastrointestinal tract. On post mortem examination larval establishment of O ostertagi was seen to be high. The adverse changes were prevented by the prior administration of a morantel bolus.