Cooperia		Contents		Rev 04/04/2024
Stomach Worm		Classification		Biology and Ecology
		Morphology and Anatomy		Life Cycle
Return to Cooperia Menu				Ecosystem Functions and Services
		Distribution		Management
Return to Cooperiidae Menu		Feeding		References
		Go to Nemaplex Main Menu		Go to Dictionary of Terminology

Classification

Chromadorea

Chromadoria

Rhabditida

  Rhabditina

   Trichostronglyloidea

    Cooperiidae

Cooperia Ransom, 1907

Type species of the genus: Cooperia curticei (Giles, 1892) Ransom, 1907

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Morphology and Anatomy:

• Body length 5-15 mm
• Buccal capsule reduced.
• Oral opening surrounded by 3 lips and small papillae.
• Cephalic vesicle present, a cuticular swelling in anterior cephalic region.
• Synlophe of trasverse cuticular stiations, bilaterally symmetrical, in esophageal region.
• Esophagus cylindrical, slightly thickened prosteriorly
• Excretory pore ear end of esopahgus
• Tail lacking spine

Females:

• Didelphic
• Vulva in posterior 25% of body
• Vulval flaps project only slightl above cuticular ridges

Males:

• Large bursa with 2 lateral lobes and a distinct dorsal lobe.
• Each lateral lobe of bursa with 6 rays
• Spicules relatively short

(Albrechtova et al., 2020; Beveridge et al., 2014)

..

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Distribution

Cattle are important hosts

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Economic Importance:

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Hosts:

Cattle

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Feeding

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Life Cycle:

Species of the genus Cooperia are monoxenous parasites with a direct life cycle. The pre-parasitic larval phase is completely free-living. Eggs, produced by females feeding in host intestine, are passed through host faeces and hatch in the “faecal pat”. The first stage larvae (L₁) feed on soil and faecal bacteria. Two subsequent moults to L₂ and L₃ are completed between 24 and 36 hours. The L₃ larvae do not feed and are enclosed in a sheath composed of the retained L₂ cuticle. They migrate from the “faecal pat” into grasses, where they develop within and becom infectious in 1 to 6 weeks. Infective larvae can survive for up to one year, until they are swallowed by a ruminant host. In the host, the L₃ larvae exit the sheath, move into mucosa of small intestine, and undergo the third and fourth moults to L₄ and L₅ larvae. Within 2-3 weeks, the L₅ larvae develop into sexually mature adult males or females. Ferilized females produce eggs, and the cycle repeats (Albrechtova et al., 2020).

Nematodes of the genus Cooperia enter a phase of hypobiosis when conditions are unfavorable for their growth and development in the host tissues.

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Damage:

Parasitic gastroenteritis caused by Cooperia spp. is a major cause of economic losses in the livestock industry.

Actually, Cooperia spp. are considered less pathogenic than the other gastrointestinal roundworms of cattle and sheep. However, high worm burden can substantially reduce the productiivity of host animals and result in lack of appetite and reduced weigh gain (Albrechtova et al., 2020). 

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Management:

The prophylaxis of parasitic gastroenteritis relies heavily on anthelmintic treatments. However, their frequent use has led to the appearance of resistant parasite populations, which have been jeopardizing the livestock industry worldwide.

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References:

 Albrechtova, M., Langrova, I., Vadlech, J., Spakulova, M. 2020. A revised checklist of nematodes (Trichostrogyloidea), common parasites of wild and domestic ruminants. Helminthologia 57: 280-287.

 Beveridge, I., Spratt, D.M.  and Durette-Desset, M-C. 2014. Order Strongylida (Railliet and Henry, 1913). In Schmidt-Raesa, A. (ed). Handbook of Zoology: Gastroctricha, Cycloneurelia and Gnathifera. Vol 2. Nematoda. De Gruyter, Berlin

Gibbons, L.M. Revision of the African species of the genus Cooperia Ransom, 1907 (Nematode, Trichstrongylidae). Systematic Parasitology 2: 219-252 (1981)

Giles, G.M.J. 1892. A description of two new nematode parasites found in sheep. Scientific Memoirs by the Medical Officers of India, Part 7, pp. 45-19, 1 pl., figs 1-9.

Ransom, B.H. 1907. Notes on parasitic nematodes, including descriptions of new genera and species, and observations on life histories. United States Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Animal Industry, Circular 116, 76 pp.

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