Variations in Schistosoma mattheei egg morphology and viability according to age of infection in cattle

Comparison of the numbers of Schistosoma mattheei eggs and miracidia per gram faeces in groups of naturally infected calves, heifers and adult cows showed that the reduction in faecal egg excretion recorded as infection progresses is associated with a decline in the ability of eggs to hatch. While 50% of the eggs from calves produced a miracidium, only 15% of those excreted from adult cows did the same. The decline in egg viability is at least partly associated with morphological changes of the eggs. About twice as many smaller and vacuolated eggs were found in the faeces of heifers and adult cows (33.8%) as compared to animals in early infection (16.1%).