Sex- and age-specific lungworm infection in Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep during winter

J Wildl Dis. 1993 Jan;29(1):90-3. doi: 10.7589/0090-3558-29.1.90.

Abstract

Sex- and age-specific fecal lungworm (Protostrongylus spp.) larvae concentrations in Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis) from the Cinnabar Winter Range in southwestern Montana were determined. All 228 fecal samples collected from bighorn sheep of known sex and age class from November to April, 1984 to 1987 contained first-stage lungworm larvae. Fecal lungworm concentrations of ewes and rams declined significantly from late fall through early spring, whereas number of lungworms in lamb feces increased as winter progressed.

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Animals, Wild
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Female
  • Male
  • Metastrongyloidea / isolation & purification*
  • Montana / epidemiology
  • Seasons
  • Sex Factors
  • Sheep
  • Sheep Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Strongylida Infections / epidemiology
  • Strongylida Infections / veterinary*