Common GI Parasites of Cattle
Name | Size | Anatomical Location of Adults | Appearance on Fecal Flotation | Extent of Pathogenicity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Paramphistomum spp (flukes) | Adults: 5–15 mcm Eggs: 160 mcm | Rumen | Egg | Low |
Haemonchus spp (barber's pole worm, large stomach worm, wire worm) | Adults: 10–30 mm Eggs: 65–100 × 34–50 mcm | Abomasum | Egg | High |
Ostertagia ostertagi (medium or brown stomach worm) | Adults: 6.5–9 mm Eggs: 65–100 × 34–50 mcm | Abomasum | Egg | Medium-high |
Mecistocirrus digitatus | Adults: 40 mm Eggs: 65–100 × 34–50 mcm | Abomasum | Egg | Low |
Trichostrongylus spp (stomach or bankrupt worms) | Adults: 4–7 mm Eggs: 65–100 × 34–50 mcm | Abomasum, small intestine | Egg | Medium-high |
Cooperia spp (cattle bankrupt worm, small intestinal worm) | Adults: 4.5–6 mm Eggs: 65–100 × 34–50 mcm | Small intestine | Egg | Medium-high |
Strongyloides papillosus (intestinal threadworm) | Adults: 3.5–10 mm Eggs: 40–60 × 32–40 mcm | Small intestine | Larvated egg | Low |
Bunostomum phlebotomum (hookworm) | Adults: 12–26 mm Eggs: 79–97 × 47–50 mcm | Small intestine | Egg | Low-medium |
Nematodirus spp (thread-necked intestinal worms) | Adults: 10–23 mm Eggs: 175–260 × 106–110 mcm | Small intestine | Egg | Low |
Toxocara vitulorum (roundworm) | Adults: 200–300 mm (20–30 cm) Eggs: 75–95 × 60–75 mcm | Small intestine | Egg | Low-medium |
Moniezia spp (tapeworms) | Adults: Width 15–25 mm, length variable Eggs: 65–75 mcm in diameter | Small intestine | Egg or segments | Low |
Aonchotheca (formerly Capillaria) bovis | Adults: 8–20 mm Eggs: 45–50 × 22–25 mcm | Small intestine | Egg with bipolar plugs | Low |
Oesphagostomum spp (nodular worms) | Adults: 12–21 mm Eggs: 73–89 × 34–45 mcm | Cecum, colon | Egg | Low-medium |
Chabertia ovina (large-mouth bowel worm) | Adults: 12 mm Eggs: 65–100 × 34–50 mcm | Colon | Egg | Low-medium |
Trichuris spp (whipworms) | Adults: 35–80 mm Eggs: 70–80 × 30–42 mcm | Cecum, colon | Egg with bipolar plugs | Medium |