Lungworm Larvae Detection

Dictyocaulus viviparus is a common and important cause of respiratory disease in cattle in cool seasonal climates. Calves in their first grazing season are most at risk, though clinical disease may occasionally occur in adult cattle that have had insufficient exposure to develop immunity. Clinical signs range from a soft husky cough to fatal dyspnoea. Adult nematodes inhabit the large bronchi. Eggs are embryonated when laid and hatch rapidly. First stage larvae are coughed up, swallowed, and expelled in the faeces. Dictyocaulus arnfieldi is mainly a lungworm of donkeys but is an occasional cause of chronic coughing in horses. Dictyocaulus eckerti causes lungworm disease in deer.

Species:

Cattle, deer, horses

Specimen:

Faeces (minimum 5g)

Container:

Plastic pot

Collection protocol:

Directly from rectum or freshly passed sample from clean surface

Special handling/shipping requirements:

Samples may be refrigerated if there is any delay in sending for analysis (e.g. over weekend)

 

Reference(s): Caswell JL, Williams KJ. Respiratory System, in: Jubb, Kennedy, and Palmer’s Pathology of Domestic Animals. 5th edition, volume 2, pp 615-7, Elsevier, 2007