Nematodirus battus

 

Contents

Rev 04/05/2024

  Classification Biology and Ecology
Morphology and Anatomy Life Cycle
Return to Nematodirus menu Ecosystem Functions and Services
Distribution Management
Return to Molineidae Menu Feeding  References
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 Classification

Phylum:  Nematoda
Class:    Chromadorea
Order:    Rhabditida 

Superfamily:  Molinieoidea

Family:  Molineidae

Subfamily: Nematodirinae

 

Nematodirus battus Crofton & Thomas. 1951

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Morphology and Anatomy:

 
 
Reported median body size for this species (Length mm; width micrometers; weight micrograms) - Click:


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Distribution

Cosmopolitan in the colon of sheep, goats, cattle and deer worldwide.

 

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Economic Importance:

Important and pathogenic parasite of sheep in temperate regions.

Temperature-influences ynchronized hatching of large numbers of larvae in spring kills several thousand lambs annually in the UK alone. In affected flocks morbidity and mortality often run at high rates (typically 50-100%, and 5-20%, respectively; with substantial impact on animal welfare and farm economics (Van Dijk and Morgan, 2008).

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Hosts:

 

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Feeding


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Life Cycle:

A simple, direct life-cycle without the need for an intermediate host.  Infective third-stage larvae develop within the egg. (Van Dijk and Thomas, 2008).

Eggs of N. battus developed at temperatures between 11. 5 and 27 C, but development at the lower end of this range was more successful. Embryonated eggs did not hatch below 11 C or above 17 C.  In previous studies, a chilling period was required before hatching occurred but in this study a substantial proportions of eggs hatched without the need for chilling. Storage of eggs at 25 C did not decrease hatch when eggs were returned to temperatures below 17 C.

Thus, there appears to be an upper threshold for hatching in this species but higher temperatures did not suppress egg survival (Van Dijk and Thomas, 2008)..

 
 

For Ecophysiological Parameters for this species, click
If species level data are not available, click for genus level parameters
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Damage:

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Management:

Avidance: Attempting to evade infection by avoiding grazing of young lambs on pasture used by lambs the previous year.


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References:

Van Dijk, J. and Morgan, E.R. 2008. The influence of temperature on the development, hatching and survival of Nematodirus battus larvae. Parasitology 135:269-283.

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