Not only humans are susceptible to infection by various parasites, but also cattle, as well as other pets, are often exposed to such danger. About helminthic infections of sheep, as well as methods of prevention and treatment later in the article.
Worms in sheep
Most often, worms are localized in the lungs, liver or brain, less often in other organs of animals. Sheep and goats are infected mainly on pastures; in sheep yards, such opportunities are minimized with good care.
Symptoms of the presence of helminths in sheep
Visually determine the presence of parasites in the body of animals is often difficult. However, their presence can be suspected by the state and behavior of the sheep:
- lethargy and fever;
- mucous membranes become yellow or turn pale;
- stool problems (constipation or upset);
- the appearance of edema;
- breathing problems (increased);
- disturbances in the work of the central nervous system (convulsions and other nervous manifestations);
- with the localization of parasites in the respiratory system (bronchi, lungs, pharynx), breathing becomes heavier, coughing and wheezing appear.
Did you know? As a result of a number of studies, it was found that the presence of certain helminths in the body is necessary for the normal functioning of the immune system. This is due to the evolutionary symbiosis of worms with humans. A side effect of general deworming in the XNUMXth century was a sharp increase in allergic diseases.
Diagnosis of helminths
When the above symptoms appear, it is necessary to conduct laboratory tests in order to accurately determine the specific parasite, since this will depend on which medications to treat. This technique is quite accurate and easy to implement, therefore it is widely carried out in veterinary laboratories and other veterinary institutions.
The main diagnostic methods are laboratory tests that make it possible to detect parasites or their larvae and eggs in urine, feces, sputum, bile, blood, muscles or skin particles.
Depending on the purpose, laboratory methods are divided into:
- helmintho-ovoscopic, allowing to detect eggs of most parasitic helminths in scrapings, excreta and secrets;
- helmintholarvoscopic methods make it possible to identify parasite larvae (dictpocauls, mulleria, etc.);
- macrohelminthoscopic studies are used to detect worms or segments of cestodes that are brought out.
Important! Do not use drugs without prior laboratory tests. Only after this treatment should be prescribed by a veterinarian.
How to treat worms in sheep
When treating helminthiases in sheep, you should:
- change drugs every season;
- adhere to dosages;
- avoid mixing medicines;
- avoid treatment unnecessarily.
Violation of these recommendations can provoke addiction to drugs. When using anthelmintic drugs, one should take into account which parasites are targeted for their effect.
For example:
- «Ivermectin» Injection acts against nematodes and intradermal mites;
- «Albendazole» designed to get rid of round, tape and flat helminths;
- with cestodosis, surgery is most often used.
Anthelmintic drugs
In addition to the above, there are many more different drugs that are applicable in the treatment of helminthiasis.
Human applied to sheep
«Pirantel“is a drug used in the treatment of worms in humans. However, it is often used in veterinary medicine. It acts on species such as pinworms, nematodes, roundworms, hookworms, causing neuromuscular blockade in them and facilitating their excretion from the body.
Did you know? Pinworm eggs remain viable for up to 6 months. An infected dog with respiration disperses eggs at a distance of up to 5 m, and a cat – up to 3 m.
Another remedy used in the treatment of human helminthiases is also used for animals. This is about “Levamisole”, acting in the form of injections on nematodes that live in the respiratory and digestive systems of animals. The active substance levamisole blocks the synthesis of enzymes in worms, as a result of which the activity of the nervous system is disrupted.
Abivertin
Has a good antiparasitic effectAbivertin”, which, when administered intramuscularly, provides a rapid therapeutic effect, being distributed throughout the body of animals.
Instructions
The drug is used for the treatment and prevention of:
- for therapeutic purposes, the injection is made in the forearm at a dose of 0,2 mg / kg of animal weight;
- with entomoses and nematodes, the injection is single, with sarcoptoidosis, the injection is repeated after 10 days;
- when pasture, prophylactic injections are carried out in the same dose;
- each new series of preparations must be tested on several sheep before mass use.
Indications for use
The drug is effective for:
- hypodermatosis;
- protostrongylosis;
- esophagostomoses;
- trichocephaly;
- sarcoptosis;
- nematodes, etc.
In the absence of any complications in the next 3 days, start vaccination of the entire livestock.
Противопоказания
- Anthelmintic is contraindicated:
- milking and pregnant females (25 days before the first lactation);
- patients with infectious diseases;
- in the first half of pregnancy;
- emaciated individuals;
- during the mating period.
Adverse Events
With the introduction of the drug, the therapeutic effect is manifested within two weeks. The drug belongs to the III class of danger (moderately dangerous) and does not cause side effects if the doses are observed.
Form of issue
«Abivertin »1% – clear yellow solution. Packaged in glass or plastic bottles of 10, 50, 100, 200, 400 and 500 ml. The container is packed into cardboard boxes and supplied with the instruction.
Important! In order to avoid the use of unnecessary drugs, it is necessary to study the most characteristic diseases of the area where the sheep are kept.
Measures for the prevention of helminths in sheep and precautions for humans
The goal of prevention is to break the cycle of helminth development. To prevent infection, you must:
- maintain animal hygiene;
- keep the premises in which the sheep are kept clean;
- change pastures every 20 days;
- carry out preventive vaccination;
- at manure storage facilities, subject feces to biothermal treatment;
- carefully inspect animals, as well as slaughter products for the detection of various suspicious formations;
- before grazing and at the beginning of the stall, laboratory tests for the presence of parasites can be carried out;
- the corpses of sick sheep must be burned or buried.
To prevent human infection with helminths, certain rules should be observed:
- conduct heat treatment of meat products;
- maintain personal hygiene, wash hands frequently with soap;
- change linen and towels regularly;
- take anthelmintic drugs for prevention;
- regularly clean in living quarters, especially in the kitchen and toilet;
- use only personal hygiene products.
If you follow the above tips and recommendations, both animals and people will be healthy. Do not forget that in the presence of pets, prevention of helminthiasis is always necessary.
