Prevalence of Toxocara vitulorum in north-central Florida beef calves: A pilot study

摘要

A pilot study was conducted to determine the presence of Toxocara vitulorum in beef calves (Bos taurus) in north-central Florida. T. vitulorum is a nematode found in subtropical climates and considered to be rare in the United States. This parasite isthought to be endemic among water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), and 1 small herd located in central Florida was included in the study. A Sheather's centrifugal flotation procedure to detect parasite ova was performed on all fecal samples collected (n=463).Beef calves sampled were less than 9 months of age, and all parasite ova observed in the flotation were noted. Although T. vitulorum was not found in any samples, many other parasite ova were present. Results of this study suggest that T. vitulorum is still rarely detected in north-central Florida.