Parasitic Disease Of Cattle Research Articles

Technical Specifications for the Prevention and Control of Parasitic Diseases in Cattle and Sheep in Dongkou County

Technical Specifications for the Prevention and Control of Parasitic Diseases in Cattle and Sheep in Dongkou County

Investigation of Acute Phase Proteins in Cattle Infected with Mycobacterium bovis

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious and zoonotic disease that adversely affects human and animal health, caused by the formation of tubercules in a caseous character in the lungs, other tissues and organs. The causative of the disease is Mycobacterium bovis. An increase or decrease in acute phase protein (APP) levels is observed in various bacterial, viral and parasitic diseases in cattle. Therefore, in this study, it was aimed to determine the changes in the levels of AFPs in cattle infected with M. bovis. In the study, 26 tuberculosis suspected and 10 healthy cattle blood serums collected from various enterprises in Samsun were used. Rose bengal plate test and complement fixation test were applied in serum by taking blood into heparin containing tubes from vena jugularis of cattle. Whole blood samples were subjected to gamma interferon ELISA test. Haptoglobin (Hp), serum amyloid A (SAA), albumin and total protein (TP) levels, which are among the acute phase proteins, were determined in the blood serums taken from the groups. As a result of the analysis, when the AFP levels of the cattle infected with M. bovis and the cattle in the healthy group were compared, it was determined that haptoglobin (p < 0.01), serum amyloid A (p < 0.01) and total protein (p < 0.01) levels, which are AFPs increased statistically significantly compared to the healthy group, while the albümin (p > 0.05) level decreased, but there was no statistically significant difference.
 Keywords: acute phase protein (APP); cattle; mycobacterium bovis; tuberculosis (TB),

A systematic approach to anti-epizootic measures for the prevention of diseases in farm animals in the Stavropol Territory

The most important factor ensuring the dynamic development of the livestock industry, which determines food security, is epizootic, veterinary and sanitary welfare of farms. Leukemia, brucellosis, tuberculosis, virus diarrhea and a number of other diseases are the most common infectious diseases in cattle. The development of effective methods for the prevention, diagnostics and control of infectious and parasitic diseases of cattle is one of the most important tasks to ensure the safety of human health. The integrated science-based system of measures, which is presented in the article, aims to provide practical assistance to veterinary specialists and livestock breeders in choosing the most optimal variant of veterinary and preventive measures, taking into account the current technology of animal husbandry, in making the correct diagnosis, carry out the necessary activities to prevent and eliminate infectious and parasitic diseases. Taking into account the epizootic, natural, climatic conditions and peculiarities of the region, the article presents measures for the prevention and control of infectious and parasitic diseases of ruminants, which are most often registered in the North Caucasus.

ANTHELMINTIC DRUGS EFFICACY AGAINST BOVINE FASCIOLIASIS

Parasitic diseases in cattle are widespread in the territory of the Russian Federation. At the farms of Udmurtia various kinds of ruminants parasitic fauna are represented and therefore the vast use of antiparasitic drugs entails a range of problems: their toxic side effects on animals’ organism, restrictions for livestock products consumption (milk, meat). Based on the aforementioned, the aim of the work was to determine the therapeutic efficacy of anthelmintic drugs against bovine fascioliasis under the Udmurt Republic conditions. The coprological examinations were made in the conventional sedimentation technique; in total 50 head of cows aged 3–5 years were examined. To determine the extensive and intensive efficacy of the drugs based on the analogy principle five groups per 10 animals were formed, four - experimental ones and the fifth served as a control one. Four drugs were used in the experiment: «Rolenol», «Santel 10 %», «Albendozole 10 %» (suspension for oral administration) and «Santomectin». When evaluating the efficacy of anthelmintic drugs against trematode infestations in cattle it was found that all of the used drugs showed high efficacy on the 40th day after dehelmintization, but due to the fact that the causative agent Fasciola hepatica belongs to biohelminthic diseases with chronic course the period of therapeutic efficacy was evaluated for up to 60 days. The maximum extensive efficacy – 90 % and intensive efficacy from 63.54 % to 83.33 % respectively were found in the groups of animals dehelmintized with: «Albendozole 10 %» in the form of suspension for oral administration and the injectable «Santomectin»; these antiparasitic drugs have a similar mechanism of action on helminths. The use of the latter is more cost-effective for agricultural enterprises, which must be taken into consideration when planning the combat measures against trematode infestations in cattle.

Prevalence of Bovine Schistosomiasis and Associated Risk Factors in Tis Abay District, Northwest Ethiopia.

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease of cattle that is caused by trematode worms and results in morbidity, mortality, reduced fertility, and productivity. A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors for bovine schistosomiasis in Tis Abay district, Amhara, Ethiopia. Fecal samples were collected from 384 randomly selected cattle and examined using the sedimentation technique. Of the total examined fecal samples, 13.02% (50/384) of the samples were positive for Schistosoma bovis eggs. The prevalence of schistosomiasis was highly reported in Dasra (22.4%), which was statistically significant (p ≤ 0.001). The prevalence of bovine schistosomiasis was higher in females (16.9%), crossbred cattle (17.1%), poorly conditioned cattle (37.1%), extensively managed cattle (17.9%), and cattle greater than 5 years old (23.1%). The multivariate analysis of factors revealed that study area, age, breed, body condition, and management system have a significant role (p < 0.05) in the prevalence of bovine schistosomiasis. Schistosoma infection is a problem for cattle in the study region. Therefore, farmers should be aware of the transmission of the disease, prevention, and control of snails.

Значение исследований иксодовых клещей в эпизоотологии кровепаразитарных болезней

The article clarifies the species composition of pathogens of blood parasitic diseases in cattle in various regions of Azerbaijan. As a result of studies of peripheral blood smears of cattle, organs and eggs of ixodid ticks, we have established the spread of four types of pathogens of blood parasitic diseases: Piroplasma bigeminum, Babesia (Francaiella) colchica, Theileria annulata and Anaplasma marginale. Microscopic examination of the salivary glands, ovaries, intestines and malpighian vessels, as well as the eggs of the Hyalomma anatolicum, H. plumbeum, Boophilus calcaratus, Ixodes ricinus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks collected from sick and clinically healthy animals, in addition to the parasites detected in the blood, additionally revealed other types of parasites. Thus, Babesia caucasica was found in Ixodes ricinus ticks, Theileria mutans in Hyalomma anatolicum; in ticks Rhipicephalus sanguineus — the causative agent of piroplasmosis in dogs Piroplasma canis. Of great practical and scientific interest is the identification of the parasite in the eggs and organs of the tick Boophilus calcaratus. This species of parasite is not described in the world catalog of piroplasmids and differs sharply from piroplasmas and babesias, which are carried by Boophilus calcaratus, in terms of morphological features and intensity of invasion. We designated this parasite in the article as Babesia sp.

Retrospective pathological studies on gastrointestinal tract parasitic diseases in cattle and buffaloes at EL-Dakahlyia province

Background and objective: The present study was carried out to study gross pathology, histopathological examination of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of animals affected with helminthes and protozoan parasites in cattle and buffaloes slaughtered in Mansoura governmental abattoir and necropsied in local dairy farms at EL-Dakahlyia Province. Materials and methods: Different kinds of trematodes, cestodes and nematodes were generally screened during the period 2017-2020 by post-mortem examination of 12,250 slaughtered bovine carcasses. Results: Out of 12,250 slaughtered bovine carcasses, 3604 cases (29%) were affected with gastrointestinal parasites. Helminthes and protozoan parasites were encountered in 3209 (89%) and 395 (10.9%) cases, respectively. The observed helminthes were nematodes (Gongylonema pulchrum, toxocara vitillorum), trematodes (Fasciola; F. gigantica) and cestodes (Moniezia, hydatid cyst), while sarcosporidia, eimeria and cryptosporidia were the encountered protozoa. Grossly, fasciola and hydatid cysts were detected in liver, gongelonema pulchrum, major sarcocysts were detected in esophagus, toxocara vitillorum were detected in small intestine. Minor sarcocysts, intestinal cryptosporidiosis and coccidiosis were discovered microscopically. The histopathological lesions were graded from 0 (no lesion), I (mild), II (moderate) to III (severe). Conclusion: No or minimal lesions as observed with living gongelonema, major and minor sarcocysts to severe caseation, calcification and granuloma formation as demonstrated with hydatid cysts and fasciola.

COMPLEX DRUGS: TERAPEUTIC AND ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY OF USING AGAINST НELMINTHIASES IN CATTLE

The article presents the data on comparison of complex drugs efficiency for animal parasitic diseases. The use of complex drugs showed to be of high therapeutic efficiency – 97.7 – 100% against various parasitic diseases in cattle. Economic efficiency for application of complex drugs is 5.65 – 11.34 roubles per each rouble of expenses.

Toxocariose em bovinos leiteiros no estado de Rio Grande do Sul

Parasitic diseases in cattle represent a worldwide health problem, with emphasis on toxocariosis involved in animal mortality in the first weeks of life. The purpose of this report is to record the prevalence of Toxocara eggs (Neoascaris) in the feces of cattle in RS. Fecal samples were processed using the Willis-Mollay method. In the present study, it was observed that 41.36% (67/162) of fecal samples from cattle (162) had Toxocara (Neoascaris) vitulorum eggs, with 49.25% of calves and 50.75% of cows being positive. The high degree of infection demonstrates that there is a lack of knowledge of parasitosis on the part of producers, requiring further studies in livestock.

EPIZOOTIC SITUATION ON PARASITIC DISEASES OF CATTLE IN THE SIBERIAN REGION

The article is devoted to the analysis of epizootic situation on parasitic diseases of cattle in the farms of the Omsk region. It was found that among helminth diseases in public and farms region registered dictyocaulus, telesis, strongyloidiasis, paramphistomum and larval (larvalia) stage of tapeworms – bovigny and tenuicollis cysticercosis, echinococcosis. Among parasitic diseases, much work in the field was conducted by hypodermatosis of cattle.

Prevalence and financial loss estimation of parasitic diseases detected in slaughtered cattle in Kwara State, North-central Nigeria.

Parasitism is of great concern to the wellbeing, productivity and reproductivity of animals and it causes great financial loss to the economy of any nation. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and the economic loss from carcass and viscera condemnation due to parasitic diseases in slaughtered cattle in Kwara State, North-central Nigeria. A 16year (2003-2018) record of parasitic diseases detected in cattle slaughtered at the major abattoirs in Ilorin city was retrieved from the Kwara State Veterinary department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The total prevalence as well as the yearly, monthly and seasonal prevalence of each of the documented parasitic diseases was determined. The financial losses associated with each of the parasitic diseases were estimated in Nigerian Naira (₦) and US Dollar (USD) considering the market price and weight of viscera condemned. Fasciolosis, hydatidosis, dicrocoeliosis, cysticercosis and oesophagostomiasis were the parasitic disease conditions with fasciolosis (6371/832,001) and cysticercosis (134/832,001) been the most and least prevalent disease conditions respectively. The yearly and monthly prevalence of each disease conditions showed an undefined pattern. There was a significantly difference in the prevalence of the detected parasitic conditions within seasons. The total financial loss associated with these disease conditions was 304,133.82 USD (46,161,433 Nigerian Naira). This study showed that parasitic diseases are of great financial drain to the livestock economy of Nigeria and this study will serve as baseline information on the economic losses associated with parasitic diseases of cattle at slaughter in Nigeria.

Retrospective study of parasitic diseases of cattle through laboratory analysis of clinical samples at Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Regional Station, Baghabari, Sirajganj, Bangladesh

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Features of embryo and morphogenesis trichurise eggs of cattle in vitro

One of the main factors hampering the development of livestock is the proliferation of a large number of diseases, both contagious and non-contagious etiology. Parasitic diseases of cattle and, in the first place, helminthiasis occupy a significant proportion of the diseases of contagious etiology. The dominant position among the helminthiasis of the digestive organs in ruminants is nematodosis of the gastrointestinal tract, in particular trichyrosis, the economic losses of which consist of a decrease in the productivity of animals due to the development of inflammatory processes in the thick intestine. Trihuris are geoellimits, which are localized predominantly in the blind and colon of the gastrointestinal tract. Females of the parasite lay eggs, which, with fecal animals, are released into the environment, where they are formed and reaches the invasive stage of the larva. Terms of preinvasive development depend on temperature. At a temperature of 30 ° in the eggs of T. ovis, the larva is formed after 17 days, and at 13–17 ° – after 118 days. At 10 º and below, the development of eggs is suspended, but they remain viable for several months. At temperatures above 38 ° the eggs die. According to U. A. Magometbekova (1953), in eggs of T. skrjabini, which parasitized in sheep, at 25–30 ° an invasive larva can be detected in 44–46 days after the eggs enter the environment. Eggs are bad for drying. The results of cultivation of eggs of T. skrjabini, the females of which parasitized in cattle, in vitro at a temperature of 27 ° for 51 days are given. The features of embryo and morphogenesis of eggs of pathogens during cultivation were studied. From the thick intestine of young cattle, by the method of a complete helminthological section by K.I. Scriabin, sexually mature nematodes were isolated, from which female gonads received immature eggs that were cultivated. It was found that at temperatures of 27 °C eggs T. skrjabini, parasitized in the thick intestine of cattle, pass into the stage of invasive larvae from the 27th day and completely stop their development to 51 days. During the period of cultivation, the length of eggs and caps is increased by 2.0 and 20.0%, the width of eggs and caps is reduced by 2.3 and 3.9%, compared to the cultivars. Reduced egg shell thickness by the 27th day of cultivation (by 2.1%) with a subsequent cessation of changes in this index.

Abstract 3978: Therapeutic evaluation of eprinomectin against advanced prostate cancer

Abstract Prostate Cancer (PCa) is the second most common cancer among men in United States after skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, in 2017 alone there will be 16,130 new cases of PCa and 26,730 deaths from PCa. Conventional chemotherapeutic drugs available for PCa treatment are limited due to toxicity and resistance issues. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop more potent treatment for advanced PCa. Eprinomectin (EP) belongs to the class of avermectins which are lactone derivatives with potent anti-helminthic and anti-cancer properties. EP has been widely used to treat parasitic diseases in cattle and is found to be less toxic than the other avermectin class of drugs. The goal of our current study is to test the anti-cancer efficacy of EP on PCa cells. Initially cell viability assays were performed on PCa cell lines such as PC3, DU145, LNCaP, VCaP, and 22RV1 to assess the anti-cancer efficacy of EP. Among all the PCa cell lines tested, PC3 and DU145 showed more sensitivity to EP. Specifically, cell viability assays indicated that EP reduced the viability of PC3 and DU145 PCa cells by 50% at 25μM concentration. Next, in soft agar assay, EP effectively inhibited the anchorage independent growth of prostate cancer cells in vitro. Furthermore, wound healing assay results suggested that EP targeted the migratory property of PC3 and DU145 cell lines. In addition, apoptosis assay using Annexin-FITC and propidium iodide staining revealed that EP targets PC3 and DU145 cells by inducing apoptosis. Cell cycle analysis showed that EP arrested the PC3 and DU145 cells in G0 phase of the cell cycle. Interestingly, our results also showed that EP targets the PCa cells by inducing oxidative stress. Real time PCR analysis showed that EP effectively inhibited the expression of various cancer stem cell markers such as ALDH1, Sox-2, Nanog, Oct3/4 and CD44. In PC3 and DU145 cell lines, EP effectively inhibited the activity of Alkaline Phosphatase suggesting that EP could target pluripotent stem cells. In addition, treatment of PC3 and DU145 cells with EP resulted in the translocation of ß-catenin from the nucleus to the cytoplasm indicating that EP antagonizes Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Furthermore, EP also decreased the expression of the downstream target genes of ß-catenin such as cyclin D1 and c-Myc in PC3 and DU145 cells. EP also downregulated the expression of other key cell cycle markers such as cyclin D3, CDK4 and anti-apoptotic markers such as Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, XIAP, c-IAP2 and survivin in PC3 and DU145 cells. On the contrary, treating PC3 and DU145 cells with EP resulted in the activation of DNA damage marker, pH2AX and upregulation of pro apoptotic marker, Bad with concomitant activation of Caspase-9 and Caspase-3. Based on our results, EP appears to potently target advanced PCa cells by inhibiting tumorigenic and metastatic properties of advanced PCa cells in vitro. Further in vivo and preclinical studies are warranted to test the efficacy of EP on PCa. Citation Format: Angela Lincy Prem Antony Samy, Syed M. Ali, Subramanyam Dasari, Gnanasekar Munirathinam. Therapeutic evaluation of eprinomectin against advanced prostate cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3978.

Study on bovine hydatidosis and its economic significance at Shashemene municipal abattoir, Southern Ethiopia

This cross-sectional study was carried out from November 2015 to March 2016 to assess prevalence and associated factors of bovine hydatidosis and also to estimate its financial loss in cattle slaughtered at Shashemene municipal abattoir. Out of 400 examined cattle by meat inspection 199(49.75%) were infected by hydatid cyst in one or more of their visceral organs. The prevalence of hydatidosis in this study was significantly higher (P<0.05) in cattle with age group of more than 10 years (56.8%) and in animals having poor body condition (62.02%). Of the total 199 infected cattle, 109(54.77%) of them had hydatid cysts only in their lung, 42(21.1%) in liver, 5(2.51%) in spleen, 3(1.5%) in heart and 2(1%) in their kidney while the rest 28(18.08%) had multiple organs infection. Of the 721 cyst counted in viscera harboring hydatid cysts, the highest (57.56%) was in lung followed by liver (40.36%), spleen (1.38%), heart (0.41%), and kidney (0.27%). Out of the total 721 cysts collected, 24.18% were fertile, 46% sterile, and 29.82% calcified cysts. From the 175 fertile cysts, 60.57% cysts were found to be with viable protoscolics. Significantly the highest viability rate (P<0.05) was observed in fertile cysts of lung origin, 62.2% followed by 57.8% cysts of livers. Based on this study, the estimated annual financial loss due to direct and indirect effects of hydatidosis was 4, 158, 559.03ET=202, 955.54USD per annum based on the local market price in the study period. Hydatidosis was highly prevalent and economically important parasitic disease of cattle in the study area. The high percentage of viable cyst in this result indicates that the risk of its transmission with implication of public health importance. Public health measures such as control of stray dogs and strengthening of meat inspection services at abattoirs should be practiced.

Study of Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Bovine Fasciolosis in Jimma Horro District of Kellem Wollega Zone, Western Ethiopia

Fasciolosis is a parasitic disease of cattle that cause a significant economic loss in cattle production in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted with aim of assessing prevalence and associated risk factors of bovine fasciolosis in Jimma Horro district from November 2016 to November 2017. Fecal samples from randomly selected 384 cattle of different age group, sex and body condition were collected and examined with parasitological techniques (sedimentation technique). The prevalence of bovine fasciolosis as determined from coprological examination was highest in Une (31.3%), followed by Makanisa (29.2%), Abono (26.1%) and Ilu Kitaye (24.0%) peasant associations. The overall prevalence of bovine fasciolosis was 27.6% (106/384) in the study areas. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified season (OR= 4.6), sex (OR= 6.1), age groups (OR= 32.4) and body condition (OR= 5.8) of cattle as risk factors (P 0.05). The present finding shows that fasciolosis in cattle is the most economically important parasitic disease affecting cattle and common in Jimma Horro district. Hence, there is a need to create awareness about impact of disease on cattle production and appropriate control methods of fasciolosis should be designed and implemented. Further epidemiological investigation should be carried out in the study area.

Organik Hayvansal Üretimde Bitkisel Drogların Kullanılması: Orta Anadolu Bölgesi Halk Veteriner Hekimliği Örneği

Organik hayvansal üretim, hayvanların fizyolojik ihtiyaçlarına uygun bakım ve besleme yöntemlerinin uygulandığı, gerektiğinde alternatif ilaç ve tedaviye öncelik verilerek hayvan sağlığının korunduğu doğal bir yetiştirme sistemidir. Hayvan yetiştiriciliğinde kullanılan antibiyotik ve antiparaziter ilaçlara karşı dirençli suşların giderek artması, hayvansal ürünlerde ilaç kalıntılarının meydana gelmesi ve bu ürünleri tüketen insanlarda önemli sağlık problemlerine yol açması alternatif bitkisel çözüm arayışlarını beraberinde getirmiştir. Bu çalışmada, Orta Anadolu Bölgesi halk veteriner hekimliği özelinde kullanılan bitkisel drogların organik hayvansal üretimde tedavi ve koruyucu etkilerinin değerlendirilmesi amaçlandı. Çalışmanın materyalini, Orta Anadolu Bölgesi‘ndeki (Çankırı, Kayseri, Kırıkkale, Kırşehir, Yozgat) hayvan yetiştiricilerinden elde edilen yazılı, sözlü ve görsel veriler oluşturdu. Çalışmada, sığır, koyun, at, tavuk, arı ve köpek türlerinde görülen iç hastalıkları, cerrahi hastalıklar, doğum ve jinekolojik sorunlar ve paraziter hastalıklarda tedavi amacıyla 30 bitkisel drogun kullanıldığı tespit edildi. Organik hayvancılıkta başta antibiyotikler olmak üzere her türlü sentetik ilaç kullanımının yasaklandığı ya da sınırlandığı değerlendirildiğinde, sürü sağlığının korunması ve tedavisinde bu maddelerin yerine doğal olan bitkisel drogların tercih edilmesinin olumlu katkılar sağlayacağı ileri sürülebilir.

Organik Hayvansal Üretimde Bitkisel Drogların Kullanılması: Orta Anadolu Bölgesi Halk Veteriner Hekimliği Örneği

Organic animal production is a natural breeding system in which animal health is protected by giving priority to alternative medicines and treatment as needed by applying appropriate management and feeding methods based on the physiological requirements of animals. Increasing numbers of strains resistant to antibiotics and antiparasitic drugs used in animal breeding have brought about the search for alternative herbal remedies that lead to drug residues in animal products and lead to important health problems in people consuming these products. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the therapeutic and protective effects of herbal drugs used in organic animal production in ethnoveterinary medicine in the Central Anatolia Region. The material of the study collected as written and declared facts as well as visual data were obtained from animal breeders in the Central Anatolia Region. The results indicated that 30 herbal drugs were used for the treatment of internal diseases, surgical diseases, obstetric and gynecological problems and parasitic diseases in cattle, sheep, horse, poultry, bee, and dog species. Based on the evaluation of the facts that the use of all kinds of synthetic drugs, especially antibiotics, is prohibited or restricted in organic livestock, it can be said that natural herbal drugs instead of artificial substances will provide positive contributions in the protection and treatment of herd health.

Organik Hayvansal Üretimde Bitkisel Drogların Kullanılması: Orta Anadolu Bölgesi Halk Veteriner Hekimliği Örneği

Organic animal production is a natural breeding system in which animal health is protected by giving priority to alternative medicines and treatment as needed by applying appropriate management and feeding methods based on the physiological requirements of animals. Increasing numbers of strains resistant to antibiotics and antiparasitic drugs used in animal breeding have brought about the search for alternative herbal remedies that lead to drug residues in animal products and lead to important health problems in people consuming these products. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the therapeutic and protective effects of herbal drugs used in organic animal production in ethnoveterinary medicine in the Central Anatolia Region. The material of the study collected as written and declared facts as well as visual data were obtained from animal breeders in the Central Anatolia Region. The results indicated that 30 herbal drugs were used for the treatment of internal diseases, surgical diseases, obstetric and gynecological problems and parasitic diseases in cattle, sheep, horse, poultry, bee, and dog species. Based on the evaluation of the facts that the use of all kinds of synthetic drugs, especially antibiotics, is prohibited or restricted in organic livestock, it can be said that natural herbal drugs instead of artificial substances will provide positive contributions in the protection and treatment of herd health.

Economic impacts of parasitic diseases in cattle.

Abstract Economic evaluations can be very useful in animal health management, including adopting control and prevention measures based on financial and data analyses. Diseases can impact the production of livestock considerably through, e.g. treatment costs, prevention, technical assistance, lowered performance and/or quality of feedstock. This review focuses on economic analyses on the impacts of parasitic diseases, control costs and strategies to improve economic efficiency in cattle farms, as well as on methodological analyses to measure the impacts of livestock diseases. From an economic point of view, information on the animal health aspects of farm management is wanting. It is necessary to determine what livestock-related variables are considered and how much value is placed on each variable to reach an objective conclusion. In other words, it is important to determine how much resources should be allocated to the detection, control and prevention of infectious and parasitic diseases in livestock systems.