title: An experimental field study on the build up of lungworm infections in cattle.
abstract: The build up of lungworm infections was studied in four groups of calves. Calves of Group 1 were infected experimentally with 6 x 10 larvae during the first 3 weeks after turnout. The pasture of Group 2 was contaminated with approximately 35,000 larvae in June and the pasture of Group 3 with approximately 1.3 million larvae in August. Group 4 served as the helminth free control group for challenge infections with 5,000 larvae in October. In Group 1 faecal larval counts increased 5 weeks after the beginning of patency and decreased after another 3 weeks, indicating the development of immunity after the second lungworm generation. In contrast, the development of immunity in Groups 2 and 3 occurred after the first lungworm generation as maximal faecal larval counts were seen within 3.5 weeks after the beginning of patency. Infection levels were highest in Group 3 which was the only group showing clinical signs. These signs became worse after oxfendazole treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eysker
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Boersema
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Cornelissen
authors.forename: F N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Kooyman
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: de Leeuw
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Saatkamp
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000469:parasitology; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000032:analysis; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D004021:Dictyocaulus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004022:Dictyocaulus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth