Parasites In Buffaloes Research Articles

New record of parasitic protozoan and helminths in buffaloes from Paraguay

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, abundance, and identification of genera of gastrointestinal parasites in buffaloes belonging to an establishment in Villa Oliva, Ñeembucú Department, Paraguay. Materials and Methods: A total of 117 buffaloes were included in the study and divided into three groups of 39 (n = 39) animals—Group 1: = <12 months (G1); Group 2: = <36 months (G2); and Group 3: >37 months (G3). All samples were tested using the saturated salt flotation. Eggs and oocyte counts were determined using McMaster’s method. Recuperation of larvae 3 was carried out after coproculture using the Baerman technique. Identification was based on morphological identification keys. Results: The presence of eggs and/or oocysts of parasites belonging to Cestoda, Protozoa, and Nematoda was noted. The prevalence of gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) was 36.75%. The highest abundance was observed in G1. After coproculture Moniezia expanza, Eimeria spp., and Haemonchus spp.; Teladorsagia spp./Ostertagia spp. were also identified. It is also observed that the incidence of nematode parasite infestation in female buffalo is high compared to males; however, in terms of microparasites, it is the opposite. According to our results, as buffalo age increased, parasite loads decreased considerably. Conclusion: Those results may link factors between hosts and the environment with the ability to maintain gastrointestinal infestation at levels that do not compromise health and body conditions. This study presented results of the prevalence, abundance, and identification of GINs from buffalos of Paraguay for the first time.

Diagnostic Study of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Buffaloes in Mosul City, Iraq

Diagnostic Study of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Buffaloes in Mosul City, Iraq

Epidemiology of digestive parasites in buffaloes from Romania

Digestive parasites are a constraint on buffalo productivity. Data regarding the prevalence of parasitic diseases in buffaloes are reported in developed countries, but in Romania, they are missing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of internal parasites in buffaloes raised in households and farms from Romania. Faeces samples were collected from 180 buffaloes of different ages (calves: 0-6 months; juveniles: 6-30 months; adults:> 30 months). The faecal samples were processed by coproparasitological methods: flotation, sedimentation, and McMaster. Digestive parasites were detected in 57.2% of buffaloes. Most buffaloes had single species infection(42.2%) (p<0.001), and only 15.0% had infection with 2 (14.5%) or 3 (0.6%) parasites. The prevalence of digestive parasites was higher in calves (68.8%) and juveniles (76.9%) compared with adults (19.6%) (p<0.001). Eimeria spp. (43.3%), Buxtonella sulcata(1.7%), Fasciola hepatica(4.4%), Paramphistomum cervi(2.8%), Moniezia spp. (0.6%), Toxocara vitulorum (11.7%), digestive strongyles (3.3%), Strongyloides papillosus (5.0%), and Capillaria spp. (0.6%) were identified. Eimeria spp. and T. vitulorumwerethe most prevalent parasitesin calves and juveniles(p<0.001). F. hepatica was the most prevalent parasite in adults.Eimeria spp. and S. papillosus were the only infections diagnosed in farmed buffaloes, with a higher prevalence (p>0.05) than in household buffaloes. B. sulcata, Moniezia spp., T. vitulorum and S. Papillosus were diagnosed only in young buffaloes, while Capillaria spp. only in adults. The OPG of Eimeria spp. was higher in young buffaloes compared with adults (p<0.001). Age was the risk factor identified for infections with Eimeria spp., T. vitulorum and F. hepatica.

Prevalence and diversity of gastrointestinal parasites in domestic buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis Linnaeus, 1758) reared under captive and semi-captive conditions in Ratnanagar, Chitwan, Nepal.

Buffaloes are one of the most popular domestic ruminants, reared globally for milk and meat. Gastrointestinal (GI) parasitism in these hosts possesses a critical warning factor that severely limits the growth, reproductive performance, and milk production. Thus, the current study aimed to assess the prevalence and diversity of GI parasites in buffaloes in Ratnanagar Chitwan in central Nepal. The fresh faecal samples (n=300) of buffaloes (150 from captive and 150 from semi-captive) were collected and immediately preserved in 2.5% potassium dichromate solution. These samples were processed via direct wet mount, sedimentation, and floatation techniques and examined under a compound microscope at 100×, 400×, and 1000× magnifications. The results showed an overall 90% prevalence of parasites (80% in captive with 22 species and 100% in semi-captive buffaloes with 30 species). Entamoeba and Balantidium coli were the most prevalent parasites among the captives, whereas Entamoeba and Fasciola were dominant in semi-captive populations. In conclusions, buffaloes under semi-captive domestication harbor the higher prevalence and greater diversity of GI parasites. GI parasitism in buffaloes varies with captivity and age. Furthermore, awareness programs to the local farmers for healthy husbandry practices and therapeutic and preventive strategies should be conducted to reduce the parasitic loads and cross-transmission of potential parasites from different environments.

Gastrointestinal parasitic infections of buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in Sarawak Borneo: Prevalence, risk factors, and farming practices.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors for gastrointestinal (GI) parasites in buffaloes from various areas of Sarawak, and to assess current management practices of GI parasites among farmers. Faecal samples were collected from 15 farms and 129 animals, as well as data on farm and animal-based characteristics. A total of 129 faecal samples were examined for GI parasites using a modified McMaster and sedimentation. Association between potential risk factors and the prevalence of GI parasites was investigated using Chi-square statistic. The prevalence of Paramphistomum sp., strongyles, and coccidia were 75.2% (95% CI±7.5), 52.7% (95% CI±8.6) and 48.1% (95% CI±8.6), respectively. Farms which had a grazing area less than 50 acres in size had significantly higher prevalence of strongyles (70.5%, χ2 = 8.34, P = 0.004) and paramphistomes (88.6%, χ2 = 6.46, P = 0.01) relative to farms with a larger grazing area (43.5% and 68.2%, respectively). Prevalence of strongyles was lower in farms that did not implement a cut- and-carry system (45.6%, χ2 = 4.17, P = 0.04) in comparison to those that did (64%). The prevalence of paramphistomes was higher on farms with more than 40 animals (80.6%, χ2 = 3.18, P = 0.05) relative to farms with fewer animals. The majority of farmers surveyed (67.9%) showed awareness of GI parasite infection and reported that they recognized the associated symptoms. Most farmers practised deworming, and ivermectin was the most commonly used anthelminthic (60.4%); only 1.9% of farmers used albendazole. Overall this study revealed a high prevalence of GI parasites in buffalo in Sarawak. Although farmers report they are aware of parasitic diseases, further education is still required. This could include how they can successfully implement on-farm changes to reduce the prevalence of GI parasites in their herds.

Extracellular vesicles in infectious diseases caused by protozoan parasites in buffaloes.

Background:Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small membrane-bound vesicles of growing interest in vetetinary parasitology. The aim of the present report was to provide the first isolation, quantification and protein characterization of EVs from buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) sera infected with Theileria spp.Methods:Infected animals were identified through optical microscopy and PCR. EVs were isolated from buffalo sera by size-exclusion chromatography and characterized using western blotting analysis, nanoparticle tracking analysis and transmission electron microscopy. Subsequently, the proteins from isolated vesicles were characterized by mass spectrometry.Results:EVs from buffalo sera have shown sizes in the 124-140 nm range and 306 proteins were characterized. The protein-protein interaction analysis has evidenced biological processes and molecular function associated with signal transduction, binding, regulation of metabolic processes, transport, catalytic activity and response to acute stress. Five proteins have been shown to be differentially expressed between the control group and that infected with Theileria spp., all acting in the oxidative stress pathway.Conclusions:EVs from buffaloes infected with Theileria spp. were successfully isolated and characterized. This is an advance in the knowledge of host-parasite relationship that contributes to the understanding of host immune response and theileriosis evasion mechanisms. These findings may pave the way for searching new EVs candidate-markers for a better production of safe biological products derived from buffaloes.

Prevalence and Intensity of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Buffaloes from Malwa Region of Madhya Pradesh and Coproculture Study of Strongyle Infection

Prevalence and Intensity of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Buffaloes from Malwa Region of Madhya Pradesh and Coproculture Study of Strongyle Infection

PREVALENCE OF GASTROINTESTINAL PARASITES IN BUFFALOES IN THE STATE OF PARAÍBA AND THE FIRST REPORT OF Cystoisospora spp. IN BUFFALOES IN BRAZIL

The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in buffaloes in the state of Paraiba, and to identify the risk factors associated with parasitic infection. The study involved 127 randomly selected buffaloes from 14 farms. Fecal Egg Count (FEC), fecal culture, and centrifugation-flotation in sucrose solution were performed. The prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was 24.4% (31/127). ). Among the infected animals, 8.6% (11/127) had helminths, 13.4% (17/127) had enteric protozoa, and 2.3% (3/127) had both. The helminth genus identified most frequently in fecal culture was Haemonchus spp. (59%), followed by Trichostrongylus spp. (34%), and Oesophagostomum spp. (7%). Eimeria spp. were present in 11.8% (15/127), Giardia sp. in 2.4% (3/127), and Cystoisospora spp. in 1.6% (2/127) of the animals. Animal purchase from livestock auctions/fairs was identified as a risk factor for gastrointestinal parasites (odds ratio = 25.44; 95% CI = 2.,17 – 297.68; P = 0.010). Although approximately 25% of buffaloes in the state of Paraiba were infected with gastrointestinal parasites, the intensity of infection was low. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the occurrence of Cystoisospora spp. in these animals in Brazil.

Prevalence of Blood Parasites Infestation among Buffaloes with Abortion in Nakhon Phanom Province, Thailand

From 2007 to 2011, the buffalo population in Nakhon Phanom Province decreased 34% with approximately 150-300 aborted buffaloes each year. However, the etiology was not systematically examined. Our objectives were to determine prevalence of blood parasites in buffaloes with abortion, and identify causes and possible factors related to abortion. We conducted a case control study in Nakhon Phanom from April 2011 to March 2012. Cases were buffaloes that reported abortion and controls were female buffaloes that previously calved without history of abortion in the same sub-district with the case. Farmers were interviewed, and placenta, aborted fetus, blood, serum, and fecal specimens were collected from both cases and controls. The specimens were tested for blood parasites, brucellosis, and gastrointestinal parasites and hematocrit using Giemsa staining of blood smear and hematocrit centrifugation technique by Woo’s method, and identified for blood parasites by microscopy. Trypanosoma spp. was the only blood parasite found with the true prevalence of 16% (95% CI =2.6-30.0). We identified risk factors for abortion using logistic regression. Significant risk factors for abortion were high density of tabanus (adjusted OR=12.9, 95% CI=1.2-135.7) and blood parasite (adjusted OR=13.1, 95% CI=1.2-142.9). Reducing the density of the vector such as tabanus might reduce the risk of abortion in buffaloes. In addition, a surveillance system on abortion etiology should be established.

Exploration and prevalence of gastrointestinal worm in buffalo from West Java, Central Java, East Java and Lombok, Indonesia

The studies of parasites in buffaloes have not been widely explored. The aim of the present study was to explore the prevalence of gastrointestinal worm infection in buffaloes. The fresh faecal samples were collected from 89 buffaloes and observed by a modified McMaster technique. The faecal of buffaloes were collected in Bogor, Demak, East Java, and Lombok. The results of identification on gastrointestinal parasites show that there were one cestode and eight nematode. The total prevalence and infestation of cestodes and nematodes was found highest in Bogor. The prevalence and infestation of differences in geographical conditions were found highest in Bogor. The prevalence of gastrointestinal worm in males were highest than female, whereas for larger was found in females. The prevalence of gastrointestinal worms was found at age 1 year, whereas a larger infestation was found at the age of 1-5 years. The calculation of FEC in Bogor was 840 EPG, in Demak 375 EPG, in East Java 570 EPG and in Lombok 13 EPG. This study informed that there were nine genera of gastrointestinal worm found in Java and five genera in Lombok. Types larvae were found six i.e Strongyloides, Haemonchus, Cooperia, Oesophagostomum, Bunostomum and free living larvae.

A study on incidence of gastrointestinal parasites in buffaloes from different slaughter houses of Chittagong Metropolitan Area

The study was conducted to investigate the incidence of gastrointestinal parasites of buffalo in different slaughter houses of Chittagong Metropolitan Area, Bangladesh. A total of 100 faecal samples were collected from three slaughter houses and studied by coproscopic examinations. Direct smear, sedimentation and floatation techniques along with egg micrometry were conducted to identify various parasitic eggs. Among 100 faecal samples 69% were positive for different individual parasitic infestation. Trematodes, nematodes, cestodes and protozoan infestations were 48%, 16%, 2% and 3%, respectively. Among the trematodes Schistosoma sp. (23%), Paramphistomum sp. (15%) and Fasciola sp. (10%) were found. Incidence of nematode infestations were Toxocara sp (4%), Oesophagostomum sp. (5%), Cooperia sp. (2%), Bunostomum sp. (3%) and 1% for both Trihostrongylus sp. and Strongyloides sp. Mixed infection were observed 7% of positive samples. Results indicate that the heavy worm burden in buffaloes causes severe economic loss to the farmers by reducing the overall productivity.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/ujzru.v30i0.10703 Univ. j. zool. Rajshahi Univ. Vol. 30, 2011 pp. 05-07

A coprological survey of gastro-intestinal parasites of water buffaloes (<i>Bubalus bubalis</i>) in Kurigram district of Bangladesh

Epidemiology of gastro-intestinal parasites of water buffaloes was investigated in Kurigram district of Bangladesh between November 2007 and October 2008 through coprological examination. A total of 236 water buffaloes were examined, among them 144 (61.02%) buffaloes were found infected with one or more species of gastro-intestinal parasites. Nine species of gastro-intestinal parasites were identified, of them four species were trematodes, namely, Paramphistomum cervi (29.24%), Fasciola gigantica (22.46%), Schistosoma indicum (1.27%), Schistosoma spindale (0.85%); three species were nematodes, namely, Toxocara vitulorum (2.54%), Strongyles (0.85%), Strongyloides sp. (0.42%) and two species were protozoa, namely, Eimeria sp. (3.39%) and Balantidium coli (37.29%). No cestode was detected. Among the gastro-intestinal parasites mixed infection was common. In this investigation, prevalence of parasites in relation to age, sex and seasonal dynamics was also studied. Significantly (p<0.01) higher prevalence of gastro-intestinal parasites was observed in rainy season followed by summer and winter seasons. Males and females were almost equally (odd ratio 1.08) susceptible to gastro-intestinal parasitic infection. In the age groups, young (< 2 to 5 years) were mostly (p<0.01) susceptible to gastro-intestinal parasites. In the present study, EPG (Egg/cyst Per Gram of Feces) was also determined. The range of EPG varied from 100-5000 among the identified parasites. The results of the present investigation revealed that the prevalence of gastro-intestinal parasites in buffaloes is very common and quite severe. It is imperative that integrated strategies and measures be taken to control gastrointestinal parasitic infections in buffaloes in kurigram district and elsewhere in Bangladesh. Keywords: Buffalo; Gastro-intestinal parasites; Kurigram district DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbau.v9i1.8752 JBAU 2011; 9(1): 103-109