Protostrongylosis - Sheep

Pathogenesis

• Protostrongylus rufescens species
  • Adult worms block small bronchioles resulting in the accumulation of eggs, larvae and cellular debris distal to the blockage (conical area affected)

Diagnosis

• Grazing history
• Clinical signs
• Faecal examination (larval identification possible by examining head, e.g. Dictyocaulus filaria (knob) or tail, e.g. Muellerius (single spine), Protostrongylus (wavy, no spine) → prognosis)

Control

• • Control measures are unlikely to be necessary and would, in any case, be difficult in view of the wide range of intermediate hosts and the longevity of worm larvae in the environment