The regulation of populations ofOstertagia ostertagiin calves

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The course of the worm burdens of calves infected daily with larvae ofOstertagia ostertagiat five different rates was studied by making post-mortem worm counts on groups of calves killed after experiencing infection for different periods of time.The relationship between worm numbers and infection rates together with evidence that a turnover of worms occurred, led to the conclusion that burdens of adult worms were regulated primarily by a loss of worms at a rate proportional to the number present.Further, estimates based on the number of developing fourth-stage larvae indicated that the proportion of the larvae administered which became established decreased gradually as the experiment progressed.At very low infection rates, the rate of turnover of the worms was slower than at high infection rates but in all groups it remained constant through the 6 months duration of the experiment.The development of a small proportion of the larvae administered was arrested at the early fourth stage. At the highest infection rate used, the proportion of worms that became inhibited was somewhat greater.