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SHORT COMMUNICATION Pakistan Vet. J., 25(1): 2005
47
INCIDENCE OF ENDOPARASITES IN EXOTIC CATTLE CALVES
I. A. Zahid, M. Latif and K. B. Baloch
Research Institute for Physiology of Animal Reproduction, Bhunikey (Pattoki),
District Kasur, Pakistan
ABSTRACT
Incidence of endoparasites was investigated in 100 and 157 youngstock of Holstein-Friesian and Jersey
breeds, respectively. Youngstock attaining the age of 9 months or more maintained at the Livestock
Experiment Station, Bhunikey (Pattoki), District Kasur were selected for the present study. Faecal samples
of all the selected animals were collected per rectum aseptically on quarterly basis from 1
st
July 2003 to
30
th
June 2004. These faecal samples were processed and examined using the standard methods i.e. direct
faecal smear method, sedimentation method and floatation technique. Overall incidence of endoparasites in
youngstock of Holstein-Friesian and Jersey breeds was 39.00 and 38.21 per cent, respectively. The highest
incidence in Friesian and Jersey youngstock was 50 and 60 per cent during 3
rd
and 4
th
quarters,
respectively, while the lowest incidence was 21.05 and 17.07 per cent, respectively during 2
nd
quarter. In 1
st
quarter the infestation of endoparasites was 34.61 and 19.44 per cent in Holstein Friesian and Jersey calves,
respectively. It was higher than infestation of endoparasites observed in 2
nd
quarter. The incidence of
endoparasites in 3
rd
quarter was higher than incidence observed in 1
st
and 2
nd
quarters. It was concluded that
the youngstock should be regularly monitored for the presence of endoparasites for their effective control
programmes.
Key words: Endoparasites, faecal, Holstein-Friesian, Jersey, youngstock
INTRODUCTION
Parasitism is one of the major problems affecting
cattle and buffalo calves. The associated economic
losses are inflicted in the form of low productivity,
reduced product quality, high treatment cost and
mortality (Gupta et al., 1978). In Pakistan, the
prevalence of the parasitic infestation is very common
and costs about 26.5 million rupees annually to
livestock industry (Anwar et al., 1995).
Endoparasites include protozoa and helminths,
which comprise of trematodes, cestodes and nematodes.
These parasites affect the health of animals and their
productivity. They also decrease resistance to diseases
and even cause severe mortality, leading to heavy
losses. The gastrointestinal parasites adversely affect
the nutritional status and even cause death of the host.
Those, which infect other organs such as liver, lungs,
heart, brain, kidneys and muscles produce clinical and
sub-clinical parasitism. Heavy outbreaks of fascioliasis,
paramphistomiasis, parasitic pneumonia, ascariasis,
haemonchosis, strongylosis and hook worm disease can
cause deaths, whereas hydatidosis, cysticercosis and
habronemiasis cause extensive damage to the organs.
The impact of parasitism is immensely important
towards the productive capabilities and certain other
disorders like sterility in animals (Terbalanche, 1979).
The objective of the present study was to know
about the incidence of endoparasites affecting
youngstock of exotic cows maintained at the Livestock
Experiment Station, Bhunikey (Pattoki), District Kasur.
This study is expected to be helpful and beneficial for
planning the control measures for the treatment of
parasitic diseases of precious youngstock of exotic
breeds.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 257 calves, including 100 Holstein-
Friesian and 157 Jersey, were examined for
endoparasitism. It was ensured that the animals
examined had not been given anthelmintics at least one
month before collection of samples. All the youngstock
attaining the age of 9 months or more were selected for
this study.
Faecal samples from all the selected animals were
collected aseptically on quarterly basis from 1
st
July,
2003 to 30
th
June, 2004 directly from the rectum. The
division of the quarter was 1
st
from July to September,
2
nd
from October to December, 3
rd
from January to
March, and 4
th
from April to June. Samples were put in
separate polythene bags. Each sample was labelled with
specific number and date of collection. Faecal samples
were processed and examined in laboratory using the
Pakistan Vet. J., 25(1): 2005
48
direct faecal smear method for the presence of various
endoparasities (Sastry, 1983). The parasites were
identified under a microscope according to their
morphological characteristics (Soulsby, 1986).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Results of the present investigations are given in
Table I. Overall incidence of endoparasites in
youngstock of Holstein-Friesian and Jersey breeds
recorded in the present study was 39.00 and 38.21 per
cent, respectively. The highest incidence of
endoparasitic infectation in youngstock of these breeds
was 50 and 60 per cent during 3
rd
and 4
th
quarters,
respectively, while the lowest (21.05 and 17.07 per
cent) was during 2
nd
quarter. In 1
st
quarter the
infestation of endoparasites was 34.61 and 19.44 per
cent in Holstein-Friesian and Jersey youngstock
respectively, which was higher than infection of
endoparasites observed during 2
nd
quarter.
The findings of the present study indicate that
animals were badly affected by endoparasites from
January to June, while the infestation of parasites was
very low from October to December and moderately
high from July to September. These findings are not in
line with those of Anwar et al. (1996), who reported
63.8% incidence of helminthiasis and low incidence of
cestodes in young buffalo calves in Faisalabad. Malik
(1994) reported that the incidence of gastrointestinal
parasites in buffaloes was 46.6% in District Charsadda
of NWFP, which is in line with findings of the present
study. Bejsovec (1991) reported the incidence of
internal parasites in cow calves of 6-12 months of age
as 18.9%, which is partially in agreement with the
findings of the present study. Similarly, Enyeniki et al.
(1975) claimed that optimal conditions (hot and humid
climate) are really helpful in the development of these
parasites.
In the light of the above discussion, it may be
concluded that the youngstock should be regularly
monitored through faecal examination for the presence
of endoparasites in order to provide rational treatment
and make them profitable.
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements are due to Abdul Latif,
Muhammad Saleem and Muhammad Rashid for their
valuable assistance and kind cooperation during the
whole period of study.
REFERENCES
Anwar, A. H., S. N. Buriro and A. Phulan, 1995. A
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Table I: The incidence of endoparasites in youngstock of Holstein-Friesian and Jersey cows
Holstein Friesian Jersey
Quarters
of the
study
No. of
samples
No. of
positive
samples
No. of
negative
samples
Percentage
of positive
samples
No .of
Samples
No. of
positive
samples
No. of
negative
samples
Percentage
of positive
samples
1
st
26 9 17 34.61 36 7 29 19.44
2
nd
19 4 15 21.05 41 7 34 17.07
3
rd
26 13 13 50.00 45 25 20 55.55
4
th
29 13 16 44.82 35 21 14 60.00
Total 100 39 61 39.00 157 60 97 38.21