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INCIDENCE OF ENDOPARASITES IN EXOTIC CATTLE CALVES

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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 1st July 2003 to 30th 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 3rd and 4th quarters, respectively, while the lowest incidence was 21.05 and 17.07 per cent, respectively during 2nd quarter. In 1st 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 2nd quarter. The incidence of endoparasites in 3rd quarter was higher than incidence observed in 1st and 2nd quarters. It was concluded that the youngstock should be regularly monitored for the presence of endoparasites for their effective control programmes.
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
hydatidosis veterinary perspective in Pakistan. The
Veterinarian, 11-14.
Anwar, A.H., C.S. Hayat and M.I. Amir, 1996.
Prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthiasis and
comparative efficacy of anthelmintics in
parasitized buffalo calves. Pakistan Vet. J., 16:
160-163.
Bejsovec, J., 1991. Permanent transmission of
endoparasites in large herds of cattle, Acta Vet.
Brno., 60: 205-212.
Enyeniki, U.K., E.D. Okon and J.P. Fabiyi, 1975.
Tapeworms infection of small ruminants in
Nigeria. Bull. Anim. Hlth. Prod. (Africa), 23: 289-
295.
Gupta. P.P., B. Singh, P.C. Mandal, B.S. Gill and G.S.
Grewal, 1978. A postmortem study of mortality
pattern in adult buffaloes in Punjab. Indian J.
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Malik, F., 1994. Incidence and chemotherapy of
gastrointestinal nematodes of buffaloes in
Charsadda District. MSc Thesis, NWFP Agri.
Univ. Peshawar, Pakistan.
Sastry, G.A., 1983. Veterinary Clinical Pathology, 3
rd
Ed., CBS Publishers, New Delhi, India.
Soulsby, E.J.L., 1986. Helminths, Arthropods and
Protozoa of Domesticated Animals. 7
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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
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Cattle are important livestock species for protein and income supply. But disease agents, including gastrointestinal (GI) parasites, hinder their productivity. For effective GI parasites control, there is need for rapid, highly sensitive and specific diagnostic techniques and tools, lack of which poses problem to clinician, diagnostic staff and livestock owners. One hundred cattle faeces were analyzed through Simple Faecal Flotation (SFF), Modified Centrifugal Faecal Flotation (MCFF) and Mini-FLOTAC techniques (MFT) using sodium chloride, brine, sugar, salt/sugar and zinc sulphate at specific gravity of 1.2, 1.23, 1.25, 1.3 and 1.3 respectively as Flotation Solutions (FS). Overall GI parasite prevalence was 100%. Parasite elements identified were: Strongyle eggs (99%), Strongyloides papilosus (97%), Neoascaris vitulorum (78%), Trichostrongylus (56%), Nematodirus (46%), Capillaria spp. (14%) and Trichuris spp. (6%), Moniezia benedeni (24%), Moniezia expansa (16%), Taenia-like eggs (3%), Schistosoma eggs (3%) and Eimeria oocysts (100%). Sensitivity of 61.99%, 58.49% and 54.24%. for MFT, SFF and MCFF respectively was gotten using Salt/Sugar. With these techniques, Salt/Sugar availability with affordability; its use as a routine FS in diagnosis of GI parasite is advocated. The ease and rapid of use of Mini-FLOTAC diagnostic Kit can be adopted in low economic countries like Nigeria where power supply is limited as well as the safety of user and possibility of re-usage.
Tapeworms infection of small ruminants in Nigeria
  • U K Enyeniki
  • E D Okon
  • J P Fabiyi
Enyeniki, U.K., E.D. Okon and J.P. Fabiyi, 1975. Tapeworms infection of small ruminants in Nigeria. Bull. Anim. Hlth. Prod. (Africa), 23: 289- 295
Prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthiasis and comparative efficacy parasitized buffalo calves Permanent transmission of endoparasites in large herds of cattle
  • A H Anwar
  • C S Hayat
  • M I Amir
Anwar, A.H., C.S. Hayat and M.I. Amir, 1996. Prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthiasis and comparative efficacy parasitized buffalo calves. Pakistan Vet. J., 16: 160-163. of anthelmintics in Bejsovec, J., 1991. Permanent transmission of endoparasites in large herds of cattle, Acta Vet