title: The seasonal incidence of helminth parasites of cattle in the Northern Transvaal Bushveld.
abstract: During a period of 14 months two tracer calves per month were slaughtered after one month's exposure to natural helminth infestation on a farm in the Northern Transvaal Bushveld. Total parasitic helminth burdens, which were never large, were determined in order to define their seasonal incidence. The gastro-intestinal parasites that were recovered were Bunostomum phlebotomum, Cooperia pectinata, Cooperia punctata, Haemonchus placei, Oesophagostomum radiatum and Trichostongylus spp. Of these Cooperia spp. were most prevalent, and the highest mean monthly burden attained was 1250 in November, 1976. Worm burdens were apparently positively correlated with rainfall, which during the survey period was lower than the average for the particular region. In addition to the more common gastro-intestinal nematodes, Thelazia rhodesii and Parafilaria bovicola were also encountered. Various techniques employed in conducting helminth surveys are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000469:parasitology*; D004064:Digestive System / Q000469:parasitology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005843:Geography; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D012621:Seasons; D013019:South Africa