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FARM ANIMAL Parasite

Worms are a type of animal parasite that can infect various domestic and wild animals, including livestock, pets, and wildlife. These parasites can cause a range of health issues in their hosts, from mild digestive disturbances to severe illness and even death. There are several types of worms that can affect animals, including roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, and whipworms, among others.

The mode of transmission for worm infections can vary depending on the type of worm involved. Some worms can be spread through contact with contaminated soil, water, or faecal matter, while others are transmitted through the consumption of infected prey or through direct contact with infected animals. In some cases, worms can also be transmitted from mother to offspring during pregnancy or lactation.

Symptoms of worm infections can also vary depending on the type of worm involved and the severity of the infection. Common signs of worm infection in animals include weight loss, diarrhoea, vomiting, poor coat condition, weakness, and lethargy. In more severe cases, animals may also experience anaemia, organ damage, and death.

Prevention and control of worm infections in animals typically involve a combination of measures, including regular deworming treatments, good hygiene practices, and proper management of animal living environments. Deworming medications are typically administered orally or through injections, and are often given on a routine schedule to prevent new infections from occurring. 

The table below shows animal parasites caused by worms with their mode of transmission, methods of control and symptoms

Parasite	Host Animal	Mode of Transmission	Symptoms	Control Methods
Ascarids	Pigs	Ingestion of eggs from contaminated feed or water	Poor growth, diarrhoea, coughing, pneumonia	Deworming, sanitation
Tapeworms	Cattle	Ingestion of infected intermediate hosts, such as a flea or beetle	Weight loss, poor appetite, diarrhoea, anaemia	Deworming, sanitation, control of the intermediate host
Liver Flukes	Sheep	Ingestion of contaminated water or vegetation	Weight loss, anaemia, liver damage	Deworming, sanitation, control of snail intermediate host
Lungworms	Goats	Inhalation of larvae in contaminated pasture	Coughing, difficulty breathing, reduced milk production	Deworming, rotational grazing
Threadworms	Poultry	Ingestion of contaminated feed or water	Weight loss, diarrhoea, reduced egg production	Deworming, sanitation
Barber’s Pole Worms	Sheep	Ingestion of larvae in contaminated pasture	Anaemia, weakness, weight loss	Deworming, rotational grazing
Strongyles	Horses	Ingestion of larvae in contaminated pasture	Weight loss, diarrhoea, colic	Deworming, rotational grazing
Pinworms	Horses	Ingestion of eggs from contaminated feed or water	Itching around the tail, rubbing of the tail and hindquarters	Deworming, sanitation
Threadworms	Cattle	Ingestion of contaminated pasture	Diarrhoea, weight loss, decreased milk production	Deworming, rotational grazing
Roundworms	Chickens	Ingestion of eggs from a contaminated environment	Diarrhoea, weight loss, reduced egg production	Deworming, sanitation
Nodular Worms	Cattle	Ingestion of larvae in contaminated pasture	Diarrhoea, weight loss, anaemia	Deworming, rotational grazing
Stomach Worms	Sheep	Ingestion of larvae in contaminated pasture	Anaemia, weight loss, reduced milk production	Deworming, rotational grazing
Large-mouthed Bowel Worms	Pigs	Ingestion of eggs in contaminated feed or water	Diarrhoea, weight loss, poor growth	Deworming, sanitation
Haemonchus contortus	Goats	Ingestion of larvae in contaminated pasture	Anaemia, weight loss, diarrhoea	Deworming, rotational grazing
Intestinal Threadworms	Cattle	Ingestion of larvae in contaminated pasture	Diarrhoea, weight loss, decreased milk production	Deworming, rotational grazing
Whipworms	Dogs	Ingestion of eggs from a contaminated environment	Diarrhoea, weight loss, anaemia	Deworming, sanitation
Lungworms	Cattle	Inhalation of larvae in contaminated pasture	Coughing, difficulty breathing, weight loss	Deworming, rotational grazing
Eyeworms	Cattle	Transmission by face flies	Irritation and inflammation of the eye	Insecticides, fly control
Heartworms	Dogs	Transmission by mosquitoes	Coughing, exercise intolerance, heart failure	Preventative medications, mosquito control

Note: The symptoms listed are not exhaustive and can vary depending on the severity of the infestation. The control methods listed are not the only methods available and may vary depending on the situation. It is important to consult with a veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment.