Helminths and arthropoda in buffalo farms from the Lazio region (Italy)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Helminths and arthropoda in buffalo farmsfrom the Lazio region (Italy) G. Cringoli & V. Musella & M. P. Maurelli & M. E. Morgoglione & A. Santaniello & R. Condoleo & I. Guariglia & L. Rinaldi Published online: 30 June 2009 # Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2009 Keywords Arthropoda.Buffaloes.Helminths.LazioregionIntroductionInformation on the presence and distribution of helminths and arthropoda in water buffaloesfrom the Lazio region of Central Italy (where 18% of Italian water buffaloes are bred) isvery fragmentary and scant. In addition, they derive from studies conducted in past periodswhen buffaloes were mainly bred on pasture and when anthelmintic treatments were notwidely used (e.g. Rivellini et al., 1972). For these reasons, the present survey was aimed atobtaining up-to-date information on the distribution of helminths and arthropoda in waterbuffaloes from the Lazio region, where the farm management system is now characterizedby intensive breeding techniques.Materials and methodsThe survey was carried out on a sample of 127 buffalo farms in 20 contiguousmunicipalities located in the provinces of Latina and Frosinone. This sample size wascalculated using the formula proposed by Thrusfield (1995) inserting the following values:study population (531 buffalo farms), expected prevalence (12%), desired absoluteprecision (5%) and confidence level (95%). First of all, all the buffalo farms located inthe study area were geo-referenced within a Geographical Information System (GIS). The127 farms that comprised the sample were selected using a grid approach (Rinaldi et al.,