Tapeworm (Moniezia expansa) in sheep: anthelmintic treatment studies to assess possible pathogenic effects and production loss in young infected animals in the field

Abstract

Niclosamide and cupric acetoarsenite were both effective in removing tapeworm (Moniezia expansa) from unweaned lambs. In four trials there was no significant liveweight gain in niclosamide-drenched, compared with undrenched, animals. Post-mortem examination for tapeworm showed that although one lamb contained 200 ml (bulk volume) of strobila, 50% of 49 infected animals contained 50 ml or less. The greatest number of scoleces in one animal was 41, and 65% of lambs contained four or fewer. M. expansa is not indicated as a cause of diarrhoea in lambs.