Bovine lungworm

Abstract

Bovine lungworm, Dictyocaulus viviparus, is the disease-causing organism which affects cattle of all ages and on top of its self-evident negative effect on the welfare of the animals, may have significant economic effect on the farm level, even in cases of subclinical infections. Although the majority of clinical incidents are observed in cattle in pasture between July and housing, there are rare outbreaks in housed previously grass-infected cattle or sometimes due to forage or low level cycling in straw yards. Although the overall seasonal trend of infection remains the same across extensive time and space, the number of cases observed at both regional and farm levels varies significantly every year and within season. Such comparative inability to predict may create uncertainties in control decisions. To be in a position to offer valid, evidence based guidance on treatment and management to the farmers, it is essential that clinicians understand key, practically important, biology, pathology, immunity and epidemiology of the lungworm.