B. Management Of Worm
Infestation
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· Worms Are Parasites That
Usually Live Inside The Digestive Tract Of The Host, Feeding On Tissue Fluids
Or Blood Of The Animal. Worms May Also Be Found In Lungs, Nasal Passage, Eye
Etc.
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· Eggs Are Passed Through The
Faces Which Contaminate Pasture, Feed Or Water Sources. Some Cause
Disease In Humans Also.
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· There Are Basically Four Types
Of Worms : (I) Round Worms And (Ii) Tapeworms-Found In The Digestive Tract;
(Iii) Flukes- Found In The Rumen And Liver And (Iv) Schistosomes – Found
Inside Blood Vessels. (See Figure Below)
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· Different Treatment Regimens
Are Required Based On The Type Of The Worm.
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Symptoms Of
Worm Infestation
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· Diarrhoea, Delayed Age At
Maturity, Reduction In Growth Rate And Milk Production, Lower Reproductive,
Draft And Feed Conversion Efficiencies, Lower Disease Resistance, Anaemia
Etc.
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· In Amphistome (Rumen And Liver
Fluke) Infestation, Severe Foetid Diarrhoea And Sub-Mandibular Oedema
(Bottle-Jaw) May Be Seen.
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· Jaundice May Be Seen In Liver
Fluke Infestation.
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· In Tapeworm Infestation,
Pot-Belly And Moving Small White Segments In Faeces Maybe Seen. It May Also
Cause Intestinal Obstruction Due To Its Length.
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· Hookworm (Type Of Round Worm
That Sucks Blood) And Schistosome Infestation May Cause Severe Anaemia And
Bloody Diarrhoea.
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· Thick Nasal Discharge, Snoring
And Shortness Of Breath May Be Seen In Nasal Schistosome Infestation. Cough
Is Seen In Lungworm (Type Of Round Worm In Lung) Infestation.
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Prevention And
Treatment
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· First Dewormed Dose To
Calves To Be Given Between 10-14 Days Of Age And Repeated Monthly Till 6
Months Of Age.
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· Administer Dewormed To All
Animals Above 6 Months Of Age Twice A Year, Once At The Beginning And Another
At The End Of The Rainy Season. Ensure Administration On The Back Of The
Tongue Rather Than Into The Mouth To Avoid Rumen Bypass.
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· Adopt Deworming On A Mass Scale
To Reduce The Egg Load Of Worms In The Soil.
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· Pregnant Animals Should Also Be
Dewormed Twice, 1st Dose Near Its Calving Time And The 2nddose Around 6-7
Weeks After Calving.
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· If The Animal Is Not Responding
To Treatment, Get The Dung Of The Animal Examined By A Veterinarian To
Determine The Type Of Worm And Provide Appropriate Drug As Advised.
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· In Areas With Snail Population
(Water-Logged Etc.), Flukes And Schistosomes May Be Suspected, Since Snails
Are Involved In Completion Of Its Lifecycle.
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· To Avoid Drug Resistance, Do
Not Administer The Same Drug Repeatedly .
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· For Any Worm Treatment To Be
Effective, The Drug Must Be Provided In Adequate Dosage, Consult A Qualified
Person For Proper Advise.
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