Nutritional and pathophysiologic effects of clinically apparent and subclinical infections of Ostertagia ostertagi in calves.
Nutritional and physiologic effects of clinically apparent and subclinical Ostertagia ostertagi infections were studied in 3 groups of 5 calves each. Group-1 calves were inoculated with 100,000 Ostertagia ostertagi third-stage larvae (L3)/calf/wk for 14 weeks. Group-2 calves were inoculated with 10,000 L3/calf/wk for 14 weeks, and group-3 calves were no inoculated. Calves in group 1 had decreased dry matter intake and feed utilization from 4 weeks after initial inoculation. Group-2 calves had no changes in dry matter intake, but had decreased feed utilization at 12 and 14 weeks. Calves with clinically apparent infections (group 1) lost a mean weight of 11.8 kg, whereas calves with suclinical infections (group 2) lost a mean of 46.6 kg, and control calves lost a mean of 60.7 kg. Calves with O ostertagi infections (group 1 and 2) also had decreased carcass quality at slaughtering, which was reflected in decreased dressing weights and increased water-holding capacity of the rib-eye muscle. Calves in groups 1 and 2 also had lower carcass yield and rib-eye muscle weight, and group-1 calves had decreased protein content. Results of hematologic, pathologic, parasitologic, and clinical examinations mirrored nutritional changes.
Xiao
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Department of Animal, Veterinary and Aquatic Sciences, University of Maine, Orono 04469.
Gibbs
H C
HC
D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D001823:Body Composition; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004435:Eating; D006128:Growth; D008297:Male; D010029:Ostertagiasis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D015431:Weight Loss
D012709:Serum Albumin; D003404:Creatinine