Schistosoma mattheei infection in cattle: the course of the intestinal syndrome, and an estimate of the lethal dose of cercariae

Abstract

Three groups of young oxen were infected percutaneously with cercariae of Schistosoma mattheei. Three of five oxen infected with 248 cercariae/kg mass died or were killed in extremis 58-70 d after infection, a fourth survived extremely severe clinical schistosomosis and the fifth was only slightly affected. None of seven calves infected with 187 cercariae/kg died, while one of seven exposed to 119 cercariae/kg was in extremis (possibly not from schistosomosis) when killed after 378 d. The LD₅₀ appears to be in the region of the highest dose tested (248 cercariae/kg) , but depends on variations in the viability of the cercariae used. The clinical syndrome was characterized by a drastic, rapid loss in body mass; a severe diarrhoea containing blood clots; straining, gnashing of the teeth, occasional groaning, and other signs of abdominal pain ; and markedly sunken eyes. Lethally infected oxen did not become recumbent until shortly before death. Some severely affected animals made remarkable, but slow, recoveries without treatment. Schistosomes, in close association with granulomata, are described-apparently for the first time-in the omental veins of cattle. Mean worm development in three calves that died or were killed in extremis in the acute stage of the disease, was 55,5 %. In contrast to most previous findings with S. mattheei, in two of these animals, more female than male worms developed. The worms were recovered by perfusion and, in one animal, a large number of intestinal veins were dissected open to estimate the efficiency of the perfusion method. Only 1,9% of the total worm burden had not been removed by perfusion in this animal .