TAPEWORMS INFECTION IN LAMBS

TAPEWORMS INFECTION IN LAMBS

Compiled by :

Dr.ASHOK KUMAR VALUPADASU
Asst.Director – V&AH Dept., Govt of Telangana
Certified Livestock Advisor –Sheep (MANAGE)
8500404016 / grass2meat@gmail.com

Tape worm Infection is more common in lambs than in adult Sheep. Weaning to Slaughter, Tape worm infestation is one of the major reasons for lamb mortality. Weaned lambs, up to 9 months age are much frequently affected. Repeated re-infestation is major problem under extensive farming and in over grazing situation. Tapeworms cause more concern because Shepherds can see expelled worms, where as they cannot see expulsion of other internal parasites. Moniezia expansa ( Cestode ) commonly affects Sheep. M.benedeni also infects are flat, long chain like & segmented. Adult worms often are up to 6 feet in length . Adult worms live inside the small intestines The adult tapeworm consists of

a. Head / Scolex: where the worms attaches itself to the mucosa of the intestine

b. Neck:

c. Body: made up of a chain of flat segments. A mature Tapeworm consists of hundreds of segments. Segments are wider ( ½ inch) than their length Each segment has two sets of Ovaries and Testes. Mature Tapeworms shed segments, which are expelled with the faeces. New segments are continuously produced from right behind the Scolex and added to the chain of segments Mature segments, full of Tapeworm eggs, break free from the end of the body of the tapeworm and pass out of the host's gut via the dung. All expelled segments are seen packed with fertilised eggs. They have a white, cooked rice grain-like appearance. Eggs are released from the segments, when dry, into the environment and can remain potentially infective for several months. Sometimes long strings of segments are passed from an animal, probably because of Tapeworm death ( their life span is about 3 months ) Destrobilization :

1. a process where in most or all segments are dropped when a tapeworm undergoes stress in the intestine.
2. Sudden change in diet is associated with destrobilization.
3. New segments are grown again Adult worms also can be expelled and passed out if infestation is heavy. Clinical Symptoms
   • Diarrhoea ( Not in all cases )
   • Emaciation
   • pot belly
   • Weight loss
   • Poor ADG
   • Anaemia
   • Death : In sufficient numbers, Tapeworms can obstruct the bowel and cause death.
   • Obstruction of intestines with Tapeworms may be one of the reasons for Entero Toxaemia also.
4. Diagnosis

 Tapeworm infection is more typically diagnosed when the moving segments are seen crawling around the anus or in a bowel movement.

 by observing segments in faeces

 Faecal Exam : Tapeworm eggs ( triangular in shape ) can be seen in faecal flotation under a microscope. But, fecal analysis does not offer a definitive diagnosis.

 Definitive diagnosis in the live animal is difficult , hence a post-mortem is necessary to confirm an accurate diagnosis.

Mode of Infection :
 Cestodes require pasture mites ( Oribatid mites ) as intermediate host to complete their life cycle.

 These Oribatid mites ingest the eggs while feeding

 Inside the Oribatid mites, over a period of 1 to 4 months, eggs are developed in to infective larval stages

 Oribatid mites live everywhere in the top layer of soil in huge numbers.

 Hundreds of thousands of Oribatid mites lives in one square meter of soil.

 Oribatid mites can be found in plant material.

 Oribatid mites are present on the grass during the cooler parts of the day
and on warm, cloudy days.

 During periods of intense sunlight and when strong, drying winds prevail, the mites leave the grass and are found at the grass roots and in the soil.

 Saturation of the soil due to heavy or continued rains causes the Oribatid mites to migrate onto the grass.

 These mites are more active during the summer months.

 Lambs become infected ( while grazing ) when they ingest the pasture mites containing fuly developed / Infective larvae.

 The ingested infective larva completes its development to the adult stage in small intestine of Sheep.

 Once ingested by lamb, it takes 40-50 days for the larvae to develop into adult worms and will be ready to start shedding segments containing eggs

 In general, lambs are weaned as early as by 25 -30 days of age in majority of flocks reared under Open grazing system and are allowed for grazing along with their mothers. This is the reason to find Tapeworms in lambs 45 – 60 days after start of grazing ie at the age of 70-80 days.

 Sheep develops an immune response to Tapeworms which may not completely prevent infection, but will limit number and size of Tapeworms.
Prevention :
Shepherds who maintain their flocks in extensive grazing are not aware of this mode of infestation of lambs with tapeworm larvae. Hence prevention of tape worm infestation shall be done by educating Shepherds

a. discouraging early weaning of Lambs @ 20-30 days & not to wean lambs till 60 – 90 days of age, so that can prevent early infection by grazing there by to prevent mortality

b. on need of giving periodic deworming in lambs starting first deworming after completion of 3 months of age if weaned at 2 months or after 2 months if weaned at 1 month of age

c. Not to wait for giving first dose of deworming , till tapeworm segments are passed out along with faeces or till clinical symptoms are exhibited.

d. To do deworming subsequently once in 2 months till lamb becomes adult or till slaughtered.

Treatment :

 It is not necessary to treat lambs every time whenever segments in the faeces are noticed. A definitive diagnosis (on heavy infestation sufficient enough to create health problems) is very much required to start specific treatment

 Treating specifically for visible intestinal tapeworm is not much beneficial. Along with better to treat the less visible worms also which cause severe production losses and death.

 If tapeworms recover prior to expulsion, reattachment to the gut may occur. Hence treatment with taeniafuges should be accompanied by laxatives.

1. Praziquantel : effective against both adult and immature stages
2. Albendazole : @ double dose – effective against Adults only
3. Niclosamide :
4. Laxative: to expel all the Adult worms from Intestines to check possibility of ET due to obstruction of intestinal movements.
5. Antibiotics Injections ( Ceftiofur Sodium preferred) : To prevent possible Bronchopneumonia
6. Haematinics to counter Anaemia
7. Balanced feeding
8. Recommended interval for evaluating tapeworm treatment is 3 weeks after initial drug treatment.

 2 – 4 hours after deworming, can see expulsion of segments
 Note : This infection is common in Kids also

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