Cooperia oncophora

Cooperia oncophora	Contents	Rev 01/10/2026
	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
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Classification

Chromadorea
Chromadoria
Rhabditida
Rhabditina
Trichostronglyloidea
Cooperiidae

Cooperia oncophora (Railliet, 1898) Ransom, 1907

Morphology and Anatomy:

Cuticle transversely striated; remainig body with 14-16 longitudinal lines and transversely striated.
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 posteriorly
Excretory pore near end of esopahgus
Tail lacking spine

Males:

5.5-9.0 mm long
Large bursa with 2 lateral lobes and a distinct dorsal lobe.
Each lateral lobe of bursa with 6 rays
Spicules 240-300 um long.
No gubernaculum.

Females:

6-8 mm long
Didelphic
Vulva in posterior 25% of body
Vulval flap projects only slightly above cuticular ridges
Long tapering tail
Ovejectors 700 um long
Eggs measure 75-92 x 36-44 um with a morula stage that has 16 cells when laid.

Ref: Snyder et al., 2020

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

Distribution:

Cooperia oncophora occurs worldwide as a parasite of cattle. (Snyder et al., 2020)

Economic Importance:

A parasite of the small intestine of cattle. A strong immunity develops after 1 year in calves.

Hosts:

Cooperia oncophora is a parasite of cattle

Feeding:

Cooperia oncophora parasitizes the anterior part of the small intestine and sometimes in the abomasum of cattle (Snyder et al., 2020).

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 feces and hatch in the fecal pat The first stage larvae (L₁) feed on soil and fecal bacteria. Two subsequent molts to L₂ and L₃ are completed between 24 and 36 hours.

The infective L₃ larvae do not feed and are enclosed in a sheath composed of the retained L₂ cuticle. They migrate from the fecal patï¿½ into grasses, where they develop and become 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 exsheath, move into mucosa of the small intestine, and undergo the third and fourth molts 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.

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

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Damage:

Cooperia spp. are considered less pathogenic than some other gastrointestinal roundworms of cattle and sheep and the development of immunity after one year lessens the damage. 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; Snyder et al., 2020).

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Management:

Anthelminthics

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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)

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.

Snyder, D.E., Marchiondo, A.A. Cruthers, L.R. 2020. Nematoda, Trichostrongyloidea. Chapter 2 in Marchiondo, Cruthers and Fourie (eds) Parasiticide Screening Vol 2. Academic Press

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