Íslenskar landbúnaðarrannsóknir - 01.09.1974, Qupperneq 5

ÍSL. LANDBÚN.
J. AGR. RES. ICEL. 1974 6, 1-2'. 3—22
Sheep parasites in Iceland
Protozoan ovocysts, helminthic eggs and larvae in
sheep faeces, and the effect of thiabendazole treatment.
Sníkjudýr í sauðfé á íslandi
Þolhjúpuð frumdýr, ormaegg og ormalirfur í kindasaur
og áhrif thiabendazole ormalyfs.
SlGURÐUR H. RlCHTER
Institute for Experimental Pathology
University of Iceland
Keldur, Reykfavík.
ABSTRACT
A study was made for two years on a group of sheep from a single flock on a farm in Iceland.
Faecal samples were collected at weekly intervals and the number of Eimeria ovocysts, eggs of gast-
rointestinal nematodes and larvae of lung nematodes were counted. Eggs of Moniezia expansa were
noted as well as faecal consistency.
The variations of these parameters are depicted in relation to the age of the sheep and time of year.
The reasons for the variations are discussed.
The effeas of thiabendazole on these parameters
tion of anthelmintica is discussed.
INTRODUCTION
It is generally accepted that sheep parasites
cause considerable economic losses. The main
means of dealing with these parasites is by
improvement of sheep management practices
and the use of drugs. These methods can
only be properly evaluted when the life cyc-
les of the parasites involved are known.
Investigations on sheep parasites are con-
stantly being carried out in other countries,
but results of such studies can not be applied
in Iceland without reservation. The climatic
conditions and sheep management practices
of Iceland differ from those elsewhere and
were studied and the optimal time for administra-
these two factors exert great influence on the
life cycles of the parasites. It is necessary
therefore to investigate the life cycles of the
parasites under Icelandic conditions in order
to make it possible to advise the farmers of
the best methods against the many parasites
that affect sheep.
The following sheep parasites have been
found in Iceland (Based on Gíslason 1968,
PÁLSSON 1955, PÁLSSON 1964, PÁLSSONet
al. 1971, and several other published and
unpublished observations):