The epidemiology and control of cattle helminth infections
Background
The most important helminth infections of cattle in temperate climate regions are infections with gastrointestinal nematodes (mainly Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia spp.), liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) and lungworms (Dictyocaulus viviparus). Infections can be severe, resulting in clinical symptoms, but often have a subclinical course, resulting in production losses. Major challenges in the control of helminth infections in cattle are to identify and prevent production losses caused by subclinical infections and to maintain the efficacy of available drugs by preventing the development of anthelmintic resistance.
Current research
Current research focuses on the development of new diagnostic and control methods for a targeted control of helminth infections in cattle. The main objectives of the current research are:
1) To study the impact on production (growth, milk yield, fertility) of helminth infections in cattle and their economic consequences on the farm level.
2) To use improved sero-surveillance, interfaced with geographic information systems, to monitor the major parasitic infections in dairy cattle and provide disease risk assessments.
3) To develop farm-specific, userfriendly control methods for a targeted parasite control.
CONTACT
Prof. Dr. Jozef Vercruysse 
Prof. Dr. E. Claerebout 
Dr. Johannes Charlier 
Publications since 2002
Geurden, T., Claerebout, E., Deroover, E., Vercruysse, J., 2004. Evaluation of the chemoprophylactic efficacy of 10% long acting injectable moxidectin against gastrointestinal nematode infections in calves in Belgium. Vet Parasitol 120, 331-338.
Charlier, J., Duchateau, L., Claerebout, E., Vercruysse, J., 2005. Assessment of the repeatability of a milk Ostertagia ostertagi ELISA and effects of sample preparation. Prev Vet Med 68, 277-288.
Charlier, J., Claerebout, E., Duchateau, L., Vercruysse, J., 2005. A survey to determine relationships between bulk tank milk antibodies against Ostertagia ostertagi and milk production parameters. Vet Parasitol 129, 67-75.
Charlier, J., Claerebout, E., De Meulenaere, E., Vercruysse, J., 2005. Associations between dairy herd management factors and bulk tank milk antibody levels against Ostertagia ostertagi. Vet Parasitol 133, 91-100.
Charlier, J., Duchateau, L. Vangroenweghe, F., Claerebout, E., Burvenich, C., Vercruysse, J., 2006. The effect of an experimentally induced acute mastitis on the test results of an Ostertagia ostertagi milk ELISA. Vet Parasitol 136, 161-165.
Forbes A.B., Charlier J., Vercruysse J., 2006. Bulk milk ELISAs for quantitative estimates of parasite infection. Cattle Practice 14, 167-173.
Charlier J., Duchateau L., Claerebout E., Williams D., Vercruysse J., 2007. Associations between anti- Fasciola hepatica antibody levels in bulk-tank milk samples and production parameters in dairy herds. Prev Vet Med 78, 57-66.
Charlier J., Duchateau L., Claerebout E., Vercruysse J., 2007. Predicting milk-production responses after an autumn treatment of pastured dairy herds with eprinomectin. Vet Parasitol 143, 197-390.
Charlier J., Camuset P., Claerebout E., Courtay B., Vercruysse J., 2007. A longitudinal survey of anti-Ostertagia ostertagi antibody levels in individual and bulk tank milk in two dairy herds in Normandy. Res Vet Sci 83, 194-197.
Charlier J., De Meulemeester L., Claerebout E., Williams D., Vercruysse J., 2008. Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of coprological and serological techniques for the diagnosis of fasciolosis in cattle. Vet Parasitol 153, 44-51.
Forbes A.B., Vercruysse J., Charlier J., 2009. A survey of the exposure to Ostertagia ostertagi in dairy cow herds in Europe through the measurement of antibodies in milk samples from the bulk tank. Vet Parasitol 162, 295-305.
Charlier J., Höglund J., von Samson-Himmelstjerna G., Dorny P., Vercruysse J., 2009. Gastrointestinal nematode infections in adult dairy cattle: impact on production, diagnosis and control. Vet Parasitol164, 70-79.
Charlier J., Troeng J., Höglund J., Demeler J., Stafford K., Coles G., von Samson-Himmelstjerna G., Merza M., Vercruysse J., 2009. Assessment of the within- and between-laboratory repeatability of a commercially available Ostertagia ostertagi milk ELISA. Vet Parasitol164, 66-69.
Höglund J., Morrison D.A., Charlier J., Dimander S., Larrson A., 2009. Targeted selective treatments for gastrointestinal nematodes in first-season grazing cattle based on mid-season daily weight gains. Vet Parasitol 164, 80-88.
Bennema S., Vercruysse J., Claerebout E., Schnieder T., Strube C., Ducheyne E., Hendrickx G., Charlier J. The use of bulk-tank milk ELISAs to study the spatial distribution of Fasciola hepatica, Ostertagia ostertagi and Dictyocaulus viviparus in Flanders (Belgium). Vet Parasitol, 165, 51-57.
Charlier J., De Cat A., Forbes A., Vercruysse J., 2009. Measurement of antibodies to gastrointestinal nematodes and liver fluke in meat juice of beef cattle and associations with carcass parameters. VeteParasitol, in press.
Charlier J., Vercruysse J., Smith J., Vanderstichel R., Stryhn H., Claerebout E., Dohoo I., 2009. Evaluation of anti-Ostertagia ostertagi antibodies in individual milk samples as decision parameter for selective anthelmintic treatment in dairy cows. Prev Vet Med 93, 147-152
Almería S., Adelantado C., Charlier J., Claerebout E., Bach A., 2009. Ostertagia ostertagi antibodies in milk samples: relationships with herd management and milk production parameters in two Mediterranean production systems of Spain. Res Vet Sc 87, 416-420 .