Inhibited development in Haemonchus contortus

Abstract

Inhibited development of Haemonchus contortus was studied in single experimental infections of worm-free lambs. Chilling of the infective larvae at + 4°C was without effect on the percentage of larvae subsequently becoming inhibited and a period of exposure to autumnal conditions was unnecessary to induce a high rate of inhibition. It was concluded that seasonal inhibition of H. contortus in East Anglia is brought about primarily by an environmental stimulus acting upon the preparasitic stages but that, unlike Obeliscoides cuniculi and Ostertagia ostertagi, this was not cold. It could be provided in a culture kept in the dark at 25 °C for 12 days. While the age of the host did influence the phenomenon, in that larvae were less inclined to inhibition in very young animals, it was concluded that this was not a primary factor in the aetiology.