Helminthic Diseases of Ruminants: Deworming Schedule and Deworming
Rajeev Ranjan Kumar
Deprtment of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Pantnagar-263 145
| In India, helminthic infections are very common in ruminants due to suitable environmental climate. The common parasitic diseases found in ruminants are fasciolosis, amphistomosis, tape worm infections, ascariosis, gastrointestinal nematodosis, parasitic and bronchitis. Control of these parasitic diseases is being achieved by deworming, biological agents, implementation of nutritional substances etc. but the success of the control of these diseases is based on selection of highly effective dewormer (drug), proper dose rate, modes of administration of treatment and adopting effective managemental practices.
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The economy of India is mainly based on profitable agriculture production. Livestock sector is one of the most important components of the agriculture production system. In India poor and marginal people are switching towards animal husbandry sector due to acquisition of lands by several Government/Non-Government organizations for the establishment of industrial sector, multiplex complexes and construction of roads. Parasitic infections is one of the most common problems of ruminants in India and is responsible for impaired productivity, anaemia, infertility, poor carcass quality, poor carcass quality and also make themselves susceptible for other infectious diseases. The common helminthic infections found in ruminants are fasciolosis, amphistomosis, tape worm infections, ascariosis, gastrointestinal (GI) nematodosis, and parasitic bronchitis. In most of the helminthic diseases, clinical signs exhibits by the infected animals are vague in nature. Therefore, the knowledge about various diseases is also important for formulating an effective control strategy. The clinical signs of the important parasitic diseases encountered in ruminants are as follows:
Clinical Signs
Fasciolosis: The infected animal become lethargic and shows ascites, anaemia, anorexia, constipation followed by diarrhea, bottle jaw condition and in some cases, there is frothy discharge from nostrils. There is also decrease in milk production and poor growth rate.
Amphistomosis: The acute form of the disease is characterized with foul foetid watery diarrhoea, oedema, anorexia, and anaemia. In later stage, animal becomes emaciated, dehydrated and finally collapses. In general, the infected animals show diarrhea, anorexia and weakness.
Tape worm infection: The disease occurs in chronic form and the infected animals show diarrheoa, anorexia, weakness etc.
Ascariosis: Passing of mudy colour faeces, pot bellied abdomen, bloat and eating of uneven things (pica), weakness and depression around eyes are the important clinical signs of the disease.
GI nematodosis: Small ruminants are mainly parasitized with the disease. The clinical signs are vague as the disease occurs due to mixed infection of gastrointestinal nematodes. Animals show diarrhoea, weakness, anorexia, aneamia and bottle jaw (blood sucking nematodes). The colour of diarrhoeic faeces may become greenish (Oesophagostomum), blackish (Trichostrongylus) or dark (Haemonchus) in colour.
Parasitic bronchitis: Lung worms causes parasitic bronchitis in animal. Infected animals shows coughing, pneumonia, difficulty in breathing and mucopurulent nasal discharge. Sometimes, diarrhea may also occur as a result of co-infection with gastrointestinal nematodes.
Treatment of Parasitic Diseases: Control of the helminthic diseases can be achieved by using chemical drugs (deworming), biological approaches, implementation of nutritional substances and immunization. In India, deworming of the infected animals remains the only option to control various helminthic infections because of non-availability of the other methods. The success of the control of helminthic diseases by deworming is based on selection of highly effective drugs, proper dose rate, modes of administration and also duration of treatment. The commonly used chemical drugs or deworner to controlling various parasitic diseases are given below:-
Commonly used Dewormer agaisnst Various Helminthic Diseases of Ruminants
| Chemical Drugs | Diseases | Dose rate/
kg body weight |
Hosts | Mode of Administration |
| Albendazole |
GI Nematodes, Tape worm |
7.5mg | All ruminants | Oral |
| Fenbendazole | GI Nematodosis | 5 mg | Cattle & buffaloes | Oral |
| 10 mg | Sheep & goats | Oral | ||
| Rafoxanide | Fasciolosis, GI nematodosis | 7.5mg | All ruminants | Oral |
| Closantel | Fasciolosis, GI nematodosis | 10mg | All ruminants | Oral |
| Oxyclozanide | Fasciolosis, Amphistomosis | 10mg | All ruminants | Oral |
| Levamisole | Parasitic bronchitis, GI nematodosis | 7.5mg | All ruminants | Oral or S/c |
| Ivermectin | Parasitic bronchitis, GI nematodosis | 0.2mg | All ruminants | Oral or S/c |
| Praziquantel | Tape worm | 5mg | All ruminants | Oral |
| Piperazine | Ascariosis | 200mg | Calves | Oral |
S/c- subcutaneous,
Deworming Schedule
The deworming schedule should be properly timed and integrated with other managemental practices to prevent occurrence of the disease, limit parasite proliferation and optimize production. A strategic deworming schedule of important parasitic disease in various animals is given below-
Animal species |
Schedule |
Large Ruminants(Cattle & Buffalo)
|
1. First dosing with broad spectrum anthelmintic at 15-20 days of age. Repeated at monthly interval for two times upto 1 years for control of ascariosis.
2. Treatment with flukicide at 4 months interval, i.e., thrice in a year. First dose: August, Second dose: November and third dose in late February or early March. |
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Small Ruminants (Sheep & Goat) |
3. Medication with broad-spectrum anthelmintic at three fixed occasions i.e. before rains (June-July), after rains (Sept.-Oct.) and in late spring-early summer (March-April) for control of G.I. nematodes.
4. Treatment with flukicide at 4 months interval, i.e., thrice in a year. First dose: August, Second dose: November and third dose in late February or early March. |
General Control Measures:
In order to minimize parasitic burden and obtain maximum production benefits from the animals, the following preventive measures and managemental practices are suggested: –
- Keep the animal and its premises clean and dry.
- Prevent the animals from grazing near the ponds/rivers, which are infected with snails.
- Grazing of animals should be allowed only after sunrise.
- Regular faecal examination of the animals to diagnose helminthic infection.
- The diseased animals should be immediately separated from healthy one.
- Follow an effective deworming schedule.
- Provide balanced diet to the animals.
- If possible, rotational grazing with different host species and grazing area should be followed.
