[Ascaris suum infection as a cause of clinical problems in cattle?]

A sudden decrease in milk yield, increased respiratory rate and occasional coughing were observed in dairy cows on two farms in spring 1991. Pigs were also kept on these farms, and pastures grazed by the cattle had been fertilised with pig slurry. Laboratory investigations of some of the cattle showed eosinophilia and high ELISA titres of antibodies against Ascaris suum. On one farm the clinical symptoms disappeared after the animals had been treated with oxfendazole and on the other farm the symptoms disappeared spontaneously with time.