PREVALENCE AND EPIDEMIOLOGY OF GASTROINTESTINAL HELMINTHS IN DAIRY COWS IN "BATHAN" AREAS OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

A one year (2018-19) prevalence study on gastrointestinal helminth was conducted in Bathan areas (Pabna and Sirajgonj districts) of Bangladesh. The study was conducted between September,2018 to August,2019. A total of 144 samples were taken from both indigenous and crossbred cattle from 5 selected upazillas of two districts. Qualitative examination were done by a series of routine coproscopical methods including direct smear technique, sedimentation technique, centrifugal technique and floatation technique as qualitative methods and Mcmaster method of egg counting as quantitative technique. The effects of topography, season, age and gender were tested in both crossbred and local cattle. Over all prevalence was found 81.94%. Multiple infections were found in 32.2% cases. The prevalence was highest in the rainy season(85.71%) followed by summer season (81.63%) and winter season (79.24%).Total six types of helminth were listed, out of which two were trematodes and four were nematodes. Higher amount of prevalence was recorded in older cattle (85.33%) than younger catlle (78.26%).Overall prevalence of Fascilola spp. was (27.08%), which was highest in the study followed by Paramphistomum spp.(20.13%), Strongyle spp.(20.13%), Haemonchus spp.(13.88%). Average EPG found in the whole study was 211.65 which was highest in rainy 259.11 followed by summer (225.11) and winter (158.18). It can be concluded that a favorable humid condition during rainy season favors the growth of propagation of developmental stages which would be the reason of peak prevalence. Further studies can be helpful to find out the actual causes of parasitism and to develop measures against it.