Parasites
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English
Invertebrate organisms that live on or in another organism (the host), and benefit at the expense of the other. Traditionally excluded from definition of parasites are pathogenic bacteria; fungi; viruses; and plants; though they may live parasitically. [NALT]
An organism that lives at the expense of another (host) during some portion of its life cycle. Usually a parasite does not kill its host. [AGROVOC]
Narrower Topics
Ectoparasites
An ectoparasite lives outside the host's body, on the host's surface.
Related Topics: Fishes, Parasites, Fish Health Management and Welfare
Related Topics: Poultry, Parasites
Publications
Guide to Performing McMaster’s Fecal Egg Count for Small Ruminants
Bridget Stice, Laura H. Bennett, Christa L. Kirby, Allison L. Williams, and Brittany N. Diehl
This article is meant to serve as a general guide to perform quantitative fecal egg counts on grazing small ruminants, specifically sheep and goats. This tool is utilized to estimate the extent of pasture parasite burden as well as individual animal parasite burden, and to determine the efficacy of dewormer or anthelmintic treatment. Written by Bridget Stice, Laura H. Bennett, Christa L. Kirby, Allison L. Williams, and Brittany N. Diehl, and published by the UF College of Veterinary Medicine, UF/IFAS Extension, December 2024.
Identification and Control of Internal Parasites in Small Ruminants
Izabella Toledo, Kevin Korus, Cassidy Dossin, Lizzie Whitehead, and Caetano Sales
The management of gastrointestinal parasites is one of the primary concerns of small ruminant producers. It is best practice for producers to understand and monitor for signs of illness in their herd or flock and use appropriate methods to identify parasite infection. This publication discusses symptoms of parasite infection, identifying animals for testing, managing anthelmintic resistance, and more. Written by Izabella Toledo, Kevin Korus, Cassidy Dossin, Lizzie Whitehead, and Caetano Sales, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Animal Sciences, April 2025.
Small Ruminant Gastrointestinal Parasite Management
Laura Bennett, Christa Kirby, Bridget Stice, Allison L. Williams, andBrittany N. Diehl
This article is meant to provide small ruminant producers with an overview of gastrointestinal parasite management concepts. Written by Laura H. Bennett, Christa L. Kirby, Bridget Stice, Allison L. Williams, and Brittany N. Diehl, and published by the UF College of Veterinary Medicine, UF/IFAS Extension, May 2025.