Effects of single or concurrent infections with Eimeria alabamensis and gastrointestinal nematodes on the performance of calves on pasture.
Twenty-four calves unexposed to pasture were allocated to four groups and inoculated with either two doses of 5 million Eimeria alabamensis oocysts at turn-out (E), 90,000 L3 of Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia oncophora divided on six occasions (N) or both oocysts and larvae as above (E + N). A control group was left uninoculated (C). For 10 weeks, the groups grazed in separate uniform paddocks not previously grazed by cattle. By day 5, most calves in groups E and E + N developed clinical coccidiosis that resulted in reduced weight gain compared to C and N. Mean trichostrongylid faecal egg counts in groups N and E + N never exceeded 300 eggs per gram of faeces, and average serum pepsinogen levels were less than 3.8 U tyrosine. This experiment demonstrates the potential impact of E. alabamensis on the performance of previously unexposed calves, whereas no aggravated effects were observed due to concurrent infections with gastrointestinal nematodes.
Larsson
A
A
Department of Parasitology (SWEPAR), National Veterinary Institute and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 751 89, Uppsala, Sweden.
Dimander
S-O
SO
Uggla
A
A
Waller
P
P
Höglund
J
J
D000818:Animals; D002369:Castration; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004539:Eimeria; D008297:Male; D010435:Pepsinogens / Q000097:blood; D014251:Trichostrongyloidea; D014252:Trichostrongyloidiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015431:Weight Loss
D010435:Pepsinogens