A QUANTITATIVE APPROACH TO NEMATODE LUNGWORM BURDENS IN GOATS

Nematode lungworm burdens are difficult to evaluate at necropsy. The r ecovery of protostrongylid worms was achieved by three different post- mortem quantification techniques. Perfusion of the lungs under waterta p pressure was successful in washing out Protostrongylus rufescens and Cystocaulus ocreatus but not Muellerius capillaris and Neostrongylus. Incubation of the lungs by pepsin and hydrochloric acid solution prio r to perfusion helped to recover trapped Muellerius and Neostrongylus. Worm nodules were classified into type A, B and C, on increasing calc ification process. Examination of these nodules showed that 75 to 80 % of type A and B contained a parasite. Worms recovered by perfusion ad ded to the sum of type A and B nodules were used to construct formula for quantifying the total lungworm burdens from naturally infected goa t lungs and may provide a reasonable basis for assessing anthelmintic efficacy.