Ostertagia spp., rumen fluke and liver fluke single- and poly-infections in cattle: An abattoir study of prevalence and production impacts in England and Wales.
This study aims at investigating the occurrence, risk factors and production impacts on beef carcass parameters of three of the most important cattle helminth infections in England and Wales. Abomasa, reticulorumens and livers from healthy cattle were collected and examined post-mortem quarterly over a one year period in an abattoir in South-West England. Specific viscera from 974 cattle were collected, examined and scored for Ostertagia spp., adult rumen fluke and liver fluke lesions/presence. A total of 89%, 25% and 29% of the carcasses had lesions/presence of Ostertagia spp., rumen fluke and liver fluke, respectively, and 39% had presence of helminth co-infection. Animal demographic and carcass parameters associated with helminth infections were investigated using multilevel multinomial and multilevel linear mixed models respectively. After adjusting for other factors, significant differences in the distribution of helminth infections were observed among cattle by type of breed, animal category (cow, heifer, steer and young bull), age, season and concurrent helminth infections. Compared to carcasses free of helminths, carcasses presenting solely Ostertagia Spp. lesions or adult rumen fluke had significantly lower cold carcass weight (coef.: -30.58 [-50.92;-10.24] and -50.34 [-88.50;-12.18]) and fat coverage (coef.: -3.28 [-5.56;-1.00] and -5.49 [-10.28;-0.69]) and carcasses presenting solely liver fluke lesions had significantly lower conformation grade (coef.: -3.65 [-6.98;-0.32]). Presence of helminth poly-infections was negatively associated with cold carcass weight.
School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, United Kingdom. Electronic address: camille.bellet@nottingham.ac.uk.
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Bellet
School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, United Kingdom. Electronic address: martin.green@nottingham.ac.uk.
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Green
AHDB Beef and Lamb, AHDB, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2TL, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Mary.Vickers@ahdb.org.uk.
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Vickers
SCPAHFS, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, G61 1QH, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Andrew.Forbes@glasgow.ac.uk.
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Forbes
Animax Ltd., Shepherds Grove West, Stanton, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP31 2AR, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Elizabeth_Berry@bcva.co.uk.
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Berry
School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, United Kingdom. Electronic address: jasmeet.kaler@nottingham.ac.uk.
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Kaler
D000003:Abattoirs; D000018:Abomasum / Q000469:parasitology; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D003612:Dairying / Q000191:economics; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D010028:Ostertagia; D010029:Ostertagiasis / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015995:Prevalence; D000069466:Red Meat / Q000469:parasitology; D012417:Rumen / Q000469:parasitology; D014852:Wales
Beef production impact; Co-infection; F. hepatica; Multilevel modelling; Ostertagia spp.; Rumen fluke