Internal Parasite Control in Sheep.pptVIP

Internal parasite control in sheep Fewer worms More dollars Course aim Monitor and manage sheep worm populations to improve production, by: Using worm egg counts to detect infestations early. Becoming competent at the faecal egg count test. Regular drench resistance tests. Use of WormBoss in decision making. Outline Setting the scene Types of internal parasites Parasite damage to sheep Introduction to WormBoss Worm egg counting Drench resistance Setting the scene Worms cost the Australian sheep industry $369M/yr This could increase to $700M by 2010 drench resistance more production losses Figure 1. National cost ($million) of major sheep health issues in Australia. (Source: Holmes et al. 2006) Types of internal parasites Strongyles or Round worms Cestodes or Tapeworms Trematodes or Liver flukes Round worms (Strongyles) Major cause of production losses in sheep Summer dominant rainfall Barbers Pole Black Scour Winter dominant rainfall Brown Stomach Black Scour Lung worms Round worms and site of infection Life cycle of round worms Epidemiology Temperature and moisture are critical for the survival of worm eggs and larvae Round worms require avg. daily temp. of 10oC and 50% humidity (50 – 75mm) to hatch Except Barbers Pole – temp. above 15oC Tape worms (Cestodes) Most common/important species Moniezia live in intestines no known ill effects Echinococcus Taenia Liver flukes (Trematodes) Only species in sheep is Fasciola hepatica Complex life cycle and has a fresh water snail as an intermediate host Live in bile ducts of liver Parasite damage to sheep Tissue damage Competition for protein Appetite reduction Scouring Anaemia (Barbers Pole) Overall production effects Parasites will cause a reduction in: fertility milking ability meat production wool production wool soundness immunity Introduction to WormBoss Developed by Sheep CRC and AWI .au Recommendations: monitor worm populations regular drench resistance tests use non-chemical management strategi