Dictyocaulus is a genus of very harmful parasitic roundworms that infects cattle, sheep, goats, horses and many other domestic and wild mammals.
Head of an adult Dictyocaulus viviparusIt is found worldwide, particularly in regions with temperate or cold climate, particularly in those with heavy rainfall. The most relevant species for livestock are:
Dictyocaulus filaria infects mainly sheep and goats as well as camelids and other wild ruminants (antelopes, deer, etc.).
Dictyocaulus viviparus infects mainly cattle and other bovids, as well as camelids, deer, elk, reindeer, etc.
Dictyocaulus arnfieldi infects horses, donkeys, mules and other equines.
These worms do not affect pigs, dogs or cats.
The disease caused by Dictyocaulus worms is called dictyocaulosis, verminous bronchitis or lung verminosis.
In sheep and goats they appear often in mixed-infections together with so-called small lungworms of small ruminants (e.g. Muellerius capillaris, Protostrongylus rufescens).