Lungworm is a parasitic infection of the respiratory tract in cattle that can be fatal. It’s caused by ingesting infective larvae from contaminated pasture.
Symptoms Coughing, Respiratory distress, Weight loss, Reduced milk yield in dairy cows, and Death in heavy infestations.
Risk factors
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- Young cattle during their first grazing season
- Dairy calves
- Autumn-born suckled calves
- Farm history
- Humidity and rainfall
- Geographical location
- Replacement stock
Control Anthelmintics, Orally administered vaccine- we would recommend Bovilis Huskvac you must move animals to clean pasture after treatment, and remove clinically affected animals from the pasture.
Diagnosis
- Baermann technique to detect first-stage larvae in fecal samples
- ELISA test to detect antibodies against Dictyocaulus viviparus
- Cutting along the bronchial tree during post-mortem examination
Impact
Lungworm disease continues to pose a serious threat to both animal welfare and income on cattle farms worldwide.
