Abstrait

Review on bovine lungworm

Feyera Gemeda Dima*, Tamene Fikedu

Production is a major agricultural activity with a huge economic impact in Ethiopia. An increase in large ruminant could contribute to the attainment of food self-sufficiency in the country especially in requirement for the growing human population and to increase export earnings. The bovine lungworm DictyocauIus viviparous is responsible for the disease known as verminous or parasitic bronchitis in cattle. The nematode viviparous is the only lung worm of cattle. Adult Dictyocaulus worms are slender, medium sized roundworms and up to 8 cm long. Bovine parasitic bronchitis is a sporadic and largely unpredictable disease. The life cycle of D. viviparous is direct. Migrating D. viviparous larvae provoke little damage until they reach the lungs. Outbreaks vary in severity from sporadic coughing with no apparent production loss to acute cases with a rapidly fatal outcome. Adult D. viviparous is up to 8 cm long and easily seen when the trachea and bronchi are cut open. Fecal samples can be submitted for analysis of L1 in Berman techniques. The anthelmintic available for the treatment of bovine parasitic bronchitis are the modern benzimidazoles, levamisole and avermectin. The best method of preventing parasitic bronchitis is to immunize all young calves with lungworm vaccine. Bovine dictyocaulosis caused by the species D. viviparous is the most common parasitic disease of cattle with a worldwide distribution. Applying rotational grazing system for different seasons of the year would apparently reduce pasture contamination. Therefore farmers should be informed to use this technique at least after harvesting their crop.