Literature relating to the effects of the tapeworm Moniezia expansa on sheep is reviewed. While there are many claims of adverse effects by this organism, none of these withstand critical scrutiny. The balance of evidence indicates that M. expansa infections are generally harmless, even when the tapeworms are present in large numbers in young lambs, and that there is no justification for treating sheep for M. expansa on the basis of any likely benefit to the health or production of the animals. No published experimental results can be found to support claims that heavy M. expansa infections sometimes exacerbate losses from other causes. Anthelmintics for investigative use, and some aspects of the classification, life history and biology of M. expansa and of its intermediate host are also discussed.
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.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.