Abstract
ABSTRACT The present study provides the first evaluation of the endoparasite profile in dairy cattle from the microregion of São João del-Rei, Minas Gerais, Brazil, including seasonal variations in parasitic infections. Fecal samples were collected directly from rectum of 123 dairy cows and 160 calves on 15 farms. These were kept in insulated boxes and sent for immediate analysis. Using eggs per gram of feces (EPG) we found the following prevalences: Strongyloidea 43.5%, Moniezia sp. 7.6% and both Strongyloides sp. and Trichuris spp. 2.2%, in dairy cows. In calves, the prevalence was Strongyloidea 50.9%, Moniezia sp. 5.6% and Strongyloides sp. 1.9%. The third-stage larvae recovered from coprocultures from cows and calves consisted mainly of Cooperia spp., Haemonchus spp. and Ostertagia spp. EPG counts were significantly higher in calves. Regarding seasonality, the EPG counts and prevalence of Moniezia sp. tended to be higher in the dry period, whereas those of Strongyloidea were higher in the rainy season. Evidence suggests that parasite control and prophylaxis were inadequately managed on the farms studied here. The present parasitological profile correlates with those found by other similar studies, indicating that the main problem is still the inadequate management of parasite control and prophylaxis by farmers.
Highlights
Data from the Brazilian Institute for Geography and Statistics indicated that the total Brazilian cattle population was estimated to be around 218 million head in 2017 (Estatística..., 2018)
The present study provides the first evaluation of the endoparasite profile in dairy cattle from the microregion of São João del-Rei, Minas Gerais, Brazil, including seasonal variations in parasitic infections
Using eggs per gram of feces (EPG) we found the following prevalences: Strongyloidea 43.5%, Moniezia sp. 7.6% and both Strongyloides sp. and Trichuris spp. 2.2%, in dairy cows
Summary
Endoparasite infections may act directly and/or indirectly on herds and are responsible for considerable economic losses They reduce weight gain, carcass yield and milk production, as well as increase mortality and expenditure on antiparasitic drugs (Charlier et al, 2014). The strategic management is crucial for treating gastrointestinal helminthiasis in cattle, because when anthelmintic drugs are correctly administrated, the profitability of the herd shows considerable improvement (Cezar et al, 2008). In this sense, evaluating the prevalence of such parasites is important for developing the adequate management. Reduction of parasite infections in dairy cattle may improve milk production, enabling yields of up to 63 liters/cow/year (Voort et al, 2014)
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