Nematode parasites and faecal soiling of sheep in lairage: evidence of widespread potential production losses for the sheep industry
C. L. Jacobson A C , K. Bell A and R. B. Besier B CA School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, WA 6150, Australia.
B Department of Agriculture and Food, Albany, WA 6330, Australia.
C Corresponding authors. Email: c.bath@murdoch.edu.au and bbesier@agric.wa.gov.au
Animal Production Science 49(4) 326-332 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA08251
Submitted: 13 October 2008 Accepted: 28 January 2009 Published: 6 April 2009
Abstract
Diarrhoea (scouring) and subsequent faecal soiling of fleece are important economic and welfare issues for the sheep industry. Nematode worm infections are commonly implicated as a cause of scouring. This study aimed to investigate the extent of strongyle parasite infections, and identify any association with faecal worm egg count (WEC) and scouring in sheep from winter rainfall environments in Western Australia consigned to an abattoir. Faeces were collected from sheep with evidence of scouring and normal sheep (firm faecal pellets and no evidence of fresh diarrhoea on breech). A total of 4430 sheep from 113 lines of lambs (<12 months old), 10 lines of yearlings (12–24 months old) and 235 lines of adult sheep (>24 months old) were sampled between September and January. Mean WEC in lamb lines was 1525 eggs per gram (epg) of faeces with mean WEC >1000 epg in 42% of lines and >2000 in 22% of lines. Mean WEC in adult lines was 486 epg, with 13% lines having mean WEC >1000 epg. There was a trend (P = 0.099) to higher WEC in scouring lambs (2289 epg) compared with normal lambs (1523 epg). The scouring adult sheep had lower WEC (417 epg) compared with normal adults (482 epg, P = 0.021). The findings suggest that large strongyle infections were common in lambs consigned for slaughter. The low WEC in scouring adult sheep was consistent with the suggestion that a hypersensitivity to ingested nematode larvae, rather than large worm burdens, may be responsible for scouring in mature sheep.
Additional keywords: dag, diarrhoea, larval hypersensitivity, scouring.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Fletcher’s International abattoir and the farmers who participated in this study. The samples were processed at the Western Australian Department of Food and Agriculture Animal Health Laboratories in Albany. Caroline Jacobson’s scholarship was funded in part by Meat and Livestock Australia and the Australian Sheep Cooperative Research Centre.
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