Detection And Distribution Of Gastrointestinal Nematodes In Cows And Buffaloes And Their Fecal Egg Count Per Gram For Parasitic Burden In KPK, Pakistan

Abstract

The GIT parasites are the main constrain for the decrease productivity of the cattle and buffaloes. The current study was conducted to evaluate the detection and distribution of gastrointestinal nematodes in cows and buffaloes and their fecal egg count per gram for parasitic burden in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. In the current study, a total of 330 samples were examined. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes was 42.12%. The rate of infection in cows was noted to be higher 44.45% than in buffaloes 39.33%. The gastrointestinal nematode infections were lower in female than male animal i.e. 40.76% and 47.14%, respectively. The result regarding gender was noted to be similar for both cows and buffaloes. The young animals were recorded to be more susceptible to gastrointestinal infection with nematode parasites 46.15% as compared to adults 39.50%. Moreover, the prevalence of gastrointestinal Nematodes was higher in months of July-august followed by May-June, September-October and March-April. The prevalence in grazing animals was higher 58.99% than stall feeding 41.01%. Among the nematode species Trichostrongylus species were more common followed by Haemonchus, Ostertagia, Bunostomum, Toxocara, Strongyloid, Nematodiurus, Trichuris and Coopeia, i.e. 14.84%, 10.90%, 9.39%, 8.18%, 7.27%, 6.66%, 4.24%, 3.93% and 3.03%, respectively. The overall egg per gram was 2.01. The analysis of egg per gram showed high value for buffaloes 2.10 than cows 1.89. The young animals were found with more parasitic burden of 2.26 eggs per gram than 1.77 eggs per gram in adults. The grazing animals were also noted to be at great risk of being infected with a high load of parasites as compared to stall fed i.e. 2.30 egg per gram and 1.67 eggs per gram, respectively.