Lungworm update - July
Vets working in laboratories operated by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) have diagnosed lungworm as the cause of death in several cattle in the past few weeks.
The animals which died of the disease included a 30 month old heifer and a four month old calf submitted (separately) to Athlone Regional Veterinary Laboratory (RVL), a 30 month old cow submitted to Kilkenny RVL, and a four month old calf submitted to Limerick RVL.
The disease is caused by worms of the species Dictyocaulus viviparus. It is also known as hoose or husk.
Interestingly, in the case of the thirty month old heifer submitted to Athlone, no coughing was observed prior to death. The diagnosis of hoose was unexpected in that case, as coughing is usually seen in animals suffering from hoose pneumonia.
Farmers and vets are advised to consider hoose as a possible cause when faced with cattle showing signs of respiratory disease.
Please see photograph from the case below.
Photograph: Lungworms in the airways of a thirty month old heifer submitted to Athlone RVL
