[Pathomorphological changes in experimental nematodiriasis of lambs]

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Pathology
• Parasitology
• Animal Science

Background:

• Nematode infections, specifically N. spathiger, pose a significant threat to lamb health.
• Understanding the pathomorphological impact of N. spathiger is crucial for effective disease management in sheep.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the pathomorphological changes in lambs experimentally infected with varying doses of N. spathiger larvae.
• To determine the influence of parasite load and duration of infection on observed lesions.

Main Methods:

• Experimental infection of three lamb groups with 5,000, 10,000, and 30,000 N. spathiger larvae.
• Macroscopic and microscopic examination of inner parenchymal organs at 18 and 60 days post-invasion.

Main Results:

• Morphological alterations were dose-dependent and time-dependent.
• Lower infections primarily affected the small intestines.
• Higher infections resulted in lesions in the small intestines, liver, spleen, and kidneys.

Conclusions:

• The severity of N. spathiger-induced nematodirosis in lambs is directly related to the number of ingested larvae and the duration of infection.
• Parenchymal organ involvement indicates a systemic impact of higher parasite burdens.