Clinical study of acute haemonchosis in lambs

Abstract

In this study are presented clinical approaches in lambs with experimentally induced haemonchosis. Eighteen lambs aged about 3 months were included in the investigation. The animals were divided into 3 groups and were inoculated by Haemonchus contortus infective larvae (L3) in following order: G1 - 6000 L3; G2 - 4000 L3 and G3 served as a noninfected control group. Clinical signs were observed weekly for 77 days. Simultaneously, we also studied the changes in bodyweight and egg shedding from the lambs. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of infective dose on degree of clinical manifestation and bodyweight, and also a rate of egg excretion by feces. The results showed that the most common clinical signs in haemonchosis are weakness, lethargy, lack of appetite, thirst, increased heart rate and breathing, pale conjunctiva and gingiva and mushy stools. Those signs started at 21st day after infection and were most pronounced about 35th day in G2 and 49th day in G1.

Keywords

• haemonchosis
• sheep
• clinical signs
• Haemonchus contortu
• Haemonchus contortus