Effects of single or concurrent infections with Eimeria alabamensis and gastrointestinal nematodes on the performance of calves on pasture

Abstract

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

Published in

Parasitology Research
2006, Volume: 99, number: 1, pages: 84-89
Publisher: SPRINGER

SLU Authors

• Uggla, Arvid

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Höglund, Johan

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Animal and Dairy Science
Veterinary Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-005-0109-4

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/9967