The lungworm Crenosoma vulpis is a worldwide species of parasite that affects Vulpes sp. (True foxes), however it can secondarily affect dogs. Read more to find out how your companion may be at risk…
Aelurostrongylus abstrusus is present amongst large reservoirs worldwide. This harmful pathogen causes serious illness to cats. Read more…
A lungworm is a member of the Strongylidae family of parasitic worms. Its primary lifecycle has its adult form situated in the lungs of any particular host animal, hence the ‘lung’ in its colloquial name.
Spring Pasture: What to consider before letting your animals out to pasture With lambing season upon us, there are many things to consider when grazing animals on spring pasture. Many cattle herds and sheep flocks are housed indoors over the winter months for various reasons. Indoor housing during the winter months provides protection from the elements and cold conditions, as well as conservation of energy that would have been spent keeping warm – meaning the energy can be better put…
Happy New Year: A round up of all of the parasites we have seen this year We’ve been lucky enough to see quite a range of parasites at Ridgeway this year, including some new ones and some that we’ve encountered many times. We thought we would share a few of these with you to sum up some of our work this year. We look forward to seeing what new and exciting species 2021 brings us! Dictyocaulus filaria A new parasite…
Anthelmintics: When Should I Use a Wormer? What are wormers? An anthelmintic, or wormer, is a drug which treats infections of parasitic worms. These could be nematodes — roundworms like Ascaradia galli in chickens, cestodes — tapeworms like Moniezia expansa in sheep, or trematodes — flukes like Calicophoron daubneyi in various livestock species. Anthelmintics are widely used across the globe, but misuse is leading to the growing issue of resistance. How do I know which wormer to use? Firstly, how do you know your animals need…
Dictyocaulus viviparus – Severe risk of Lungworm in Unvaccinated Bovines A lungworm is a nematode that can affect many species of animals, including species such as: sheep, cattle, deer, goats and horses. Each species typically has a paired species of lungworm that it is susceptible to. The bovine lungworm called (Dictyocaulus viviparus) is the most common cause of lungworm in cattle. The location occupied by a lungworm will vary dependent on the host species and parasite species; lungworms may reside…
Adapting to the loosening of COVID-19 lock down and preparing for the return to the new “normal”. As we reported in our ‘News’ in April 2020, Ridgeway has been open for business throughout lock down. The Parasitology Laboratory has been very busy sourcing new parasites whilst maintaining both of its Liver and Rumen Fluke snail colonies. What’s been happening at RRL? As the UK and countries in Europe are gradually loosening the movement restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 Pandemic, the…
Dictyocaulus filaria – A potential cause of coughing sheep What is Dicytocaulus filaria? One or two sheep coughing in a flock – particularly a harsh dry cough – could be a sign of Dictyocaulus filaria infection. This is a “lungworm” with the adult worms that measure some 4 – 10cm in length – living in the bronchi and causing bronchitis. Unlike other lungworms in sheep, this lungworm has a direct life cycle with larvae passed in droppings developing into infective larvae on pasture. Other…