Roundworms

Roundworms (nematodes) are the most important group of internal parasites affecting sheep and goats in Australia.

The most important roundworms in sheep and goats in Australia are:

• barber’s pole worm    (Haemonchus contortus)
• black scour worm    (Trichostrongylus colubriformis and T. vitrinus spp.)
• brown stomach worm    (Teladorsagia circumcincta)

Other roundworms found in sheep and goats include:

• thin necked intestinal worm    (Nematodirus spp.)
• small intestinal worm    (Cooperia spp.)
• hook worm*    (Bunostomum phlebotomum) (very uncommon)
• thread worm*    (Strongyloides papillosus) 
• nodule worm and large bowel worm    (Oesophagostomum spp.)
• whip worm    (Trichuris ovis)
• large-mouthed bowel worm    (Chabertia ovina)
• stomach hair worm    (Trichostrongylus axei)
• lung worms*    (Dictyocaulus filaria, Muellerius capillaris, Protostrongylus rufescens)
• Other nematodes: large round worm*    (Ascaris spp.) and gullet worm*   (Gongylonema spp.)

Most of these share the basic roundworm life cycle, except for those marked with an asterisk (*).

New national survey of sheep roundworm drench resistance reveals staggering levels of resistance to market leading drench actives (618 KB)