Attention to Parasitology Laboratory customers We have been made aware of an issue where our emails containing results are not reaching customers. Please ensure you check your junk/spam folder and if you have not received communications from us within 48 hours of your samples arriving here, please get in contact with us. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank you for bearing with us.
An Introduction to Equine Pinworm (Oxyuris equi) What is pinworm? Oxyuris equi is a common horse pinworm that affects the equine population across the world. It spends the majority of its lifecycle as an intestinal worm, but also affects the a horse’s exterior. While not as dangerous as other parasites, it can cause significant irritation. The nematode has a direct life cycle with no intermediate host. It resides in the large intestine where, after mating, adult females migrate out through the…
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…
UK Parasite Watch July Edition: Parasitic Gastroenteritis (PGE) What is PGE? Sheep Parasitic Gastroenteritis or PGE is one of the biggest challenges to the welfare and economic value of keeping sheep, being the most commonly diagnosed cause of mortality in young lambs in England and Wales. As the infective period progresses eggs will be shed onto pastures by infected animals. High pasture burdens may lead to disease and reduction in welfare and profit. What causes PGE? The causative agents of…
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…
Curious facts about the rumen fluke Calicophoron daubneyi Another week nearly over with a brilliant bank holiday weekend on the horizon (I know I have been very grateful for the glorious sun!). Well done if you are managing to work through the obstacles coming our way at the moment. Here at RRL we are still here, still open and still working to ensure that we are following all guidelines. We have fully incorporated the governments risk assessments for laboratories and research…
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…
The shifting nature of veterinary pharmaceutical R&D delivery…a new niche opportunity Increasingly, large pharmaceutical companies are evolving their business strategies and are incorporating outsourcing of R&D as a norm. Traditionally, large pharma companies would operate in house R&D activities. Nowadays, a multifaceted approach exists for delivering new technologies incorporating in house R&D activities; use of contract research organisations (CROs); and utilising venture capital funded start-up companies. Why are veterinary pharmaceutical companies moving to favour outsourcing of R&D? Companies are moving…
A quick introduction to Capillaria and its effects in chickens.
Liver Fluke: A further insight into it’s effect on livestock. Liver fluke infections cost the UK farming industry an estimated £300 million per year, through animal death, or decreased productivity in chronically infected animals that may show no obvious signs of disease. At Ridgeway Research Ltd we are committed to animal welfare and aiding the scientific understanding of parasite life cycles and their control. At our laboratory we maintain the Liver Fluke life cycle, producing and supplying metacercariae to Universities…