Endoparasites have been shown to have a negative impact on animal production in a number of areas. These production losses have been in decreased weight gains, decreased feed conversion, reduced milk production, diminished reproductive performance,reduced carcass quality, decreased immune response, and may even be involved in increased morbidity and mortality of animals in some disease conditions. The pathological effects of nematodes depend on a number of factors including type and number of parasites present; age, breed, and past exposure of the host; level of nutrition; and other conditions of general health of the animal. One of the major pathological impacts of parasites is anorexia. The degree of inappetence varies depending on the burden of parasitism, but also may be related to level of protein nutrition. this mechanism of parasitism and its effect on appetite is not fully understood. Parasites have also been shown to have a negative effect on digestibility of feeds, and on digestion ofprotein. The poorer the quality of the feed, the more parasites have a negative effect on the animals' ability to digest the feed. Other nutritional areas parasites impact include digestion and utilization of energy, water and electrolyte balance, and immunity.
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