Strains of cattle parasites in the Netherlands with different propensities for inhibited development

A field study was undertaken of the possible differences in propensity for inhibited development in strains of cattle nematodes from two different locations in The Netherlands. In one location (Lelystad) the strains were thought to lack the ability for inhibited development as a result of environmental stimuli on the infective larvae, while in the other location (Utrecht) this ability was presumed to be present. The Lelystad strains were kept at the original location and were also transferred to a pasture in Utrecht, while the Utrecht strains remained in Utrecht. At both locations all permanent grazing calves showed high proportions of inhibited early fourth stage larvae of Ostertagia ostertagi, the proportion of the Utrecht strain being higher than the local and the transferred Lelystad strain. For Cooperia oncophora and Nematodirus helvetianus no clear differences between locations were observed in the permanently grazed calves. No inhibition occurred in tracer calves turned out in August in either location, but differences were seen among tracer calves turned out in October. The Lelystad strains, kept in Lelystad or transferred to Utrecht, showed no inhibition, while in the tracer calves grazed on pastures contaminated by the Utrecht strains a marked inhibition of O. ostertagi and N. helvetianus was observed. The Lelystad strains appear to lack the ability, possessed by the Utrecht strains, to inhibit their development in autumn in response to environmental stimuli.