Haemonchosis in sheep in Northern Ireland

Haemonchosis is an important gastrointestinal worm infection of sheep and goats in regions where conditions of high humidity coincide with high temperature.

The life-cycle of the worm is ‘direct’, with larvae of Haemonchus contortus (‘Barber’s pole worm’) hatching and maturing in faeces on the ground before migrating to fresh grass for intake by grazing animals. This migration requires warm moist conditions, and the larvae are quite susceptible to desiccation and low temperatures. In countries where a suitable climate occurs seasonally rather than year-round, arrested (‘hypobiotic’) larvae survive in the stomach lining of infected animals, maturing to egg-producing adults when conditions again become suitable for transmission of infection.

In the British Isles outbreaks of haemonchosis may occur in the summer months if rainfall is sufficient to enable the larvae to survive on pasture. Most cases are reported from the south, and the disease is only occasionally reported in Northern Ireland. However, global warming could mean that the incidence of haemonchosis might increase here. This year, following the particularly wet conditions of mid-summer, an unusual increase in the number of cases of Haemonchus diagnosed has been noted by staff in the Parasitology Section of VSD, AFBI.

Typically, dead lambs submitted for post-mortem examination show signs of severe scour, often with fly-strike, and invariably there is severe anaemia, with large amounts of clear fluid in the abdomen and chest. Indeed, clinical diagnosis of haemonchosis in the field relies on the observation of very pale mucous membranes, including the conjunctivae of the eyes.

Anaemia due to blood loss is the usual cause of death in these cases, and it has been determined that each worm removes about 0.05ml of blood daily from its host, so a burden of 2,000 worms would result in a daily blood loss of 100ml.

Faecal egg counts on samples submitted to the laboratory from flocks where haemonchosis is suspected usually show high levels of strongyle-type eggs. However, since strongyle eggs cannot easily be differentiated on a species basis, except by advanced techniques which are not routinely applied, these counts represent the combined output of Cooperia, Haemonchus and Ostertagia/Telodorsagia infections. Low counts may be encountered if the majority of the worms are immature or if anthelmintic was administered recently.

If worms persist in lambs, particularly after dosing with benzimidazole (‘white drench’), anthelmintic resistance may be an issue on the premises, and administration of moxidectin, together with an iron-containing tonic, may be advisable. Anthelmintic resistance is less problematic in areas such as Northern Ireland, where infection is encountered only sporadically, compared to the situation in warmer countries where Haemonchus infection is highly endemic.

In Northern Ireland, the source of Haemonchus infection in flocks is often bought-in sheep from an area where infection is more common, and due to the high reproductive potential of the worm it is likely that the pasture will rapidly become contaminated with Haemonchus eggs. However the main risk for lambs in the next grazing season is from hypobiotic larvae that may remain in the replacement stock reared this year. Early-season anthelmintic dosing of replacement stock can help to reduce the risk of pasture contamination for naïve lambs, while careful attention to quarantine and dosing of bought-in stock is essential.

Notes to editors: 

AFBI’s Vision is “Scientific excellence delivering impactful and sustainable outcomes for society, economy and the natural environment”.

AFBI’s Purpose is “To deliver trusted, independent research, statutory and surveillance science and expert advice that addresses local and global challenges, informs government policy and industry decision making, and underpins a sustainable agri-food industry and the natural and marine environments”.

AFBI’s core areas:

• Leading improvements in the agri-food industry to enhance its sustainability.
• Protecting animal, plant and human health.
• Enhancing the natural and marine environment.

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