Lungworm

Lung worm infection/ hoose pneumonia, occurrence is very much both weather and age related.

Warm and humid weather favours the development of lungworm larvae on pastures.

Quite often we see the first outbreaks during the summer months after a brief dry spell followed by some rain showers (which help to disperse the larvae).

Every year we see the number of lungworm infections starting to rise month on month from July to September and into October.

Lungworm infections were the second most commonly diagnosed cause of pneumonia in Irish cattle over one month of age in 2021, according to the recently published All Island Animal Disease Surveillance report. In weanlings (6-12 months of age) lungworm accounted for almost one quarter of all pneumonia cases diagnosed in the regional veterinary labs.

Submitting dung samples for analysis to investigate lungworm is of limited value, as the clinical signs of coughing etc can occur before the larvae have become adults, and before they are detectable in the dung.

The best test for lungworm is listening. If you hear your cattle are coughing at grass, during the summer and autumn months, and have not been dosed recently, then lungworm is a possibility and they may need to be dosed.

Young dairy cattle, with no previous exposure to lungworm larvae, are commonly affected in their first grazing season. 

Lungworm re-infection syndrome is where older animals, in particular dairy cows, are introduced to a pasture with a heavy worm burden, at a time where they have reduced immunity. A severe inflammatory reaction can occur which can lead to significant breathing difficulties accompanied by milk drop.

With cows coughing, treat all animals. Cows will continue to cough after treatment while the cows are clearing the lungs of dead worms.

Treatment:

Milking cows:

Eprinex Multi pour on contains eprinomectin, a longer lasting wormer that is effective against both gut & stomach (Ostertagia & Cooperia) and lungworms. Because Eprinex Multi is a persistent wormer, it provides up to 28 days control of reinfection with the significant gut, stomach & lungworms.

Eprinex Multi is a very versatile formulation as it is licensed for use in both dairy and beef cattle as well as sheep and goats. Its has zero milk withhold period following treatment.

Younger Animals/ Dry stock:

Benzimidazole, Levamisole, Macrocyclic Lactones (“mectin”) will all work against lung and stomach worms. Check product specific withdrawal dates.