Parasite - Nematode - Cooperia Oncophora - NCBI-027828

Description

Overview

Cooperia oncophora is one of the most common intestinal parasitic nematodes in Cattle in temperate regions

Infections with Cooperia oncophora may result in

• mild clinical symptoms;
• weight loss;
• small intestine damage; These occur especially when co-infections with other nematodes such as Osteragia ostertagi.

Infections are usually treated with broad-spectrum anthelmintics such as benzimidazole, but resistance to these drugs has developed in the last decades and is now very common

Cooperia oncophora has a direct life cycle. Infective larvae are ingested by the host. The larvae grow to adults, which reproduce in the small intestines. Eggs are shed onto the pasture with the faeces, which leads to new infections

Co-infections with other gastro-intestinal nematodes such as Osteragia ostertagi and Haemonchus contortus are common

Pathology

Cooperia are considered less pathogenic to livestock than the common gastrointestinal nematode worms Haemonchus contortus or Osteragia ostertagi

However, the pathology caused by Cooperia coupled to its wide range of distribution has huge economic impact to Cattle producers

Typically calves are affected most adversely. Infection causes appetite reduction and inefficient uptake of necessary nutrients which effects body weight, reproduction and can lead eventually to calf death

Morphology

Cooperia oncophora are light red in color and have a coiled shape

• females; 6-8 mm long (about)
• males; 5.5-9 mm long (about
• • male worms have a large bursa (very distinctive clasping organ situated at the posterior end of male worms belonging to particular superfamilies). The spicules (clasping means) are 240-300 micro metres long and have a rounded end and a longitudinal line pattern.

Eggs of Cooperia oncophora can be easily identified by their parallel walls.

Reference

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooperia_oncophora - see Related Media
• https://veteriankey.com/nematoda-roundworms-part-1-concepts-and-bursate-nematodes