Discipline: Veterinary Medicine
The hatchability of Haemonchus contortus eggs exposed to gamma radiation and the lifespan of hatched larvae were examined. Hatchability decreased with increasing exposure to radiation. The hatchability of eggs exposed to 40 and 50 gray differed significantly (P<0.01). The lifespan of larvae from irradiated eggs was shorter compared with those from unexposed eggs. Batches of H. contortus larvae were also irradiated at different doses. Exposure of the hatched free swimming larvae to increasing radiation showed decreasing survival rate. Survival rate of larvae exposed to 50 gray of radiation was only 30% compared with 100% from unexposed larvae.