Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitic infections in cattle and buffalo of Sandwip Island, Chattogram, Bangladesh

Abstract

Gastrointestinal (GI) parasitic infections hinder the growth and productivity of large ruminants such as cattle and buffalo. The current study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of GI parasitic infection in cattle and buffalo with its associated risk factors in Sandwip Island under Chattogram of Bangladesh. A total of 440 faecal samples were collected randomly from cattle and buffalo. The routine coproscopy was carried out to identify the eggs/oocysts of GI parasites (helminths and protozoa). Results revealed that the overall prevalence of GI parasitic infections was 50.91% in both cattle and buffalo. The occurrence of GI trematodes and nematodes was the highest compared to cestodes and protozoan infections in both animal types. Adult buffalo had significantly higher GI parasitic infections compared to the young, whereas an opposite trend was noticed in cattle. Female buffalo were more prone to suffer from GI parasitic infections than males. As expected, animals with ‘poor’ body condition score (BCS) were more susceptible to GI parasites compared to other groups. The present investigation has documented the GI parasitic infections in cattle and buffalo in the study sites for the first time which will help the veterinarians and farmers to take preventive and therapeutic measures. Further extensive studies are required to understand the actual epidemiology of those parasitic infections.