Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T10:16:32.447Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Prevalence of Cooperia punctata, C. pectinata and C. oncophora infections in dairy calves in Brazil

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2009

M. P. Guimaraes
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology ICB, Federal University of Minas Gerais, 31270–Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
H. M. A. Costa
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology ICB, Federal University of Minas Gerais, 31270–Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
W. S. Lima
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology ICB, Federal University of Minas Gerais, 31270–Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

Cooperia is the most prevalent helminth parasitizing calves in Brazil. Three species of this genus occur most often: C. punctata, C. pectinata and C. oncophora. Six calves from dairy farms in the south of the State of Minas Gerais aged six to 15 months were killed and necropsied each month over a period of two years. The Cooperia species were identified, counted, and the numbers related to the calves' age. The worm burdens due to the three species of Cooperia were statistically different. C. punctata was the most prevalent species and had a positive correlation with the age of the calves; C. pectinata appeared with lower intensity but was always present, and C. oncophora was not found in calves older than 11 months. These results show the existence of different degrees of resistance to Cooperia species among calves as the three species did not behave similarly. It seems to be an acquired resistance. C. punctata appears to be less immunogenic than C. pectinata and C. oncophora. As C. punctata and C. pectinata are more pathogenic than C. oncophora, it seems that this pathogenicity can be related to immunogenic aspects associated with the species.

Type
Research Note
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Alicata, J. E. (1968) Partial resistance of calves to Cooperia punctata following subcutaneous inoculation of homologous infective larvae. Journal of Parasitology, 54, 350.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Burgher, H. J., Eckert, J., Chevalier, H. J. & Konigsman, G. (1968) Parasitic gastroenteritis in bovines. 2nd report: Trials on the experimental immunization of calves using irradiated larvae of Ostertagia and Cooperia. Information de Medicine Veterinaire, 4, 272291.Google Scholar
Coop, R. L., Sykes, A. R. & Angus, K. W. (1979) The pathogenicity of daily intakes of Cooperia oncophora larvae in growing calves. Veterinary Parasitology, 5, 261269.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Costa, H. M. A., Guimaraes, M. P., Costa, J. O. & Freitas, M. G. (1974) Variacao estacional da intensidade de infeccao por helmintos parasitos de bezerros em algumas areas de producao leiteira de Minas Gerais-Brasil. Arquivos da Escola de Velerinaria da UFMG, 26, 95101.Google Scholar
Guimaraes, M. P., Costa, H. M. A., Freitas, M. G. & Costa, J. O. (1975) Intensidade parasitaria por nematoides no tubo digestivo de bezerros em diferentes faixas etarias. Arquivos da Escola de Veterinaria da UFMG, 27, 6772.Google Scholar
Herlich, H. (1965) Immunity and cross immunity to Cooperia oncophora and C. pectinata in calves and lambs. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 20, 10371041.Google Scholar
Kloosterman, A., Albers, C. A. A. & Brink, R. (1978) Genetic variation among calves in resistance to nematode parasites. Veterinary Parasitology, 4, 353368.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smith, H. J. & Archibald, R. M. (1968) The effects of age and previous infection on the development of gastrointestinal parasitism of cattle. Canadian Journal of Comparative Medicine, 32, 511517.Google ScholarPubMed
Snedecor, G. W. & Cochran, W. G. (1980) Statistical Methods. 7th Ed. Iowa, Ames. 507 pp.Google Scholar
Travassos, L. (1937) Revisao da Familia Trichostrongylidae Leiper, 1912. Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, 295p.Google Scholar