Epidemiology of gastro-intestinal parasites in naturally infected dairy animals ofcentral plain zone, Punjab

A total of 2283 faecal samples were collected from cattle and buffaloes reared in central plain zone comprising of districts Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Patiala and Kapurthala of Punjab. The prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) parasitic infections in adult animals was found to be 45.52% and strongyle (24.44%) was the most prevalent GI parasite followed by Eimeria sp. (19.73%), amphistomes (5.39%), Monieziaexpansa (2.79%), Strongyloides papillosus (1.73%), Fasciola sp. (1.15%) and Trichuris sp. (0.67%). Similarly, in calves the prevalence of Toxocara vitulorum, strongyle, S. papillosus, Eimeria sp. and M. expansa was 7.72, 21.22, 27.01, 52.57 and 4.90%, respectively. In calves the overall prevalence of GI parasitic infections was found to be more (69.85%) as compared to adults and T. vitulorum was recorded only from calves of less than six months of age. A significantly higher (p<0.01) prevalence of coccidia, S. papillosus and T. vitulorum infection was recorded in buffalo calves in comparison to cow calves. The baseline data on the prevalence of various GI parasites of dairy animals generated in the current study would be of immense help in formulating control strategies against these parasites in the central plain zone of this state.