Cooperia is a genus of nematode from the Cooperiidae family that is one of the most common intestinal parasitic nematodes in cattle in temperate regions.[1] Infections with Cooperia may result in mild clinical symptoms, but can lead to weight loss and damage of the small intestine, especially when co-infections with other nematodes such as Ostertagia ostertagi occur.[2][3] Infections are usually treated with broad-spectrum anthelmintics[4] such as benzimidazole, but resistance to these drugs has developed in the last decades and is now very common.[5]Cooperia has a direct life cycle. Infective larvae are ingested by the host. The larvae grow to adults, which reproduce in the small intestines. Eggs are shed onto the pasture with the faeces, which leads to new infections. Co-infections with other gastro-intestinal nematodes such as O. ostertagi and Haemonchus contortus are common.[2]
^Dorny, P.; Claerebout, E.; Vercruysse, J.; Hilderson, H.; Huntley, J. F. (1997-06-01). "The influence of a Cooperia oncophora priming on a concurrent challenge with Ostertagia ostertagi and C. oncophora in calves". Veterinary Parasitology. 70 (1–3): 143–151. doi:10.1016/s0304-4017(96)01142-9. ISSN0304-4017. PMID9195718.
^Coop, R. L.; Sykes, A. R.; Angus, K. W. (1979-08-01). "The pathogenicity of daily intakes of Cooperia oncophora larvae in growing calves". Veterinary Parasitology. 5 (2): 261–269. doi:10.1016/0304-4017(79)90015-3.
^Anziani, O. S.; Suarez, V.; Guglielmone, A. A.; Warnke, O.; Grande, H.; Coles, G. C. (2004-08-06). "Resistance to benzimidazole and macrocyclic lactone anthelmintics in cattle nematodes in Argentina". Veterinary Parasitology. 122 (4): 303–306. doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2004.05.018. ISSN0304-4017. PMID15262008.