Longitudinal study of the effects of lungworm infection on bovine pulmonary function

Clinical and physiologic investigations were done weekly in 5 nonsedated Friesian calves before, during, and after an induced infection with Dictyocaulus viviparus infective larvae. Clinical, hematologic, serologic, and parasitologic findings were all compatible with the classic picture of moderate subacute verminous bronchitis. Most pulmonary function values revealed significant (P less than or equal to 0.05) changes in the 2nd or 3rd week after inoculation and maximal changes at 5 weeks after inoculation. Most marked changes included a decrease in tidal volume, dynamic lung compliance, and arterial oxygen tension, and an increase in minute ventilation, minute viscous work of breathing, and alveolar-arterial oxygen difference. Minute ventilation, dynamic lung compliance, minute viscous work of breathing, and PaO2 revealed the most homogeneous change. Conversely, maximal change of intrapleural pressure, total pulmonary resistance, and viscous work of breathing had higher variability from week to week.