[Prevalence and importance of endoparasites in calves raised in Swiss cow-calf farms]

Abstract

A longitudinal study was performed to establish estimates of prevalence of selected endoparasites in Swiss cow-calf operations and to investigate the importance of an infection with endoparasites on diarrhea and weight gain until weaning. Three hundred and eighty-six calves raised in 67 larger cow-calf herds were included in the study. Faecal samples were collected during the first three months of life and at weaning. Parasitological analyses were performed according to standard procedures including specifically the detection of Eimeria spp., Cryptosporidium parvum, Strongyloides papillosus and Trichostrongylida. The effects of an infection with endoparasites on weight gain were analyzed with a linear model accounting for effects of farm, breed, sex, calving month and weight at birth. The average prevalences of endoparasites within the first three months of life were: E. bovis 36%, E. zuernii, 19%, C. parvum 16.8%, S. papillosus 22.3% and Trichostrogylida 1.5%. The prevalence of diarrhea within the same time period was 13%. Prevalences at weaning (at the end of the grazing period) were: E. bovis 56.5%, E. zuernii 4.6%, C. parvum 3.7%, S. papillosus 14.4% and Trichostrogylida 84.5%. With the exception of E. zuernii, endoparasites were more frequently observed in healthy calves than in diarrheic calves. Weaning weights were available from 190 calves (33 herds). Statistical analyses of weaning weights revealed no evidence that an infection with helminths and/or protozoa within the first three months of life or at weaning had a negative influence on individual weight gain.