Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasite in small ruminants of District Dir Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan

The present research was planned to assess the occurrence of intestinal parasites in small ruminants of Upper Dir of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. For this purpose, the faecal material was collected randomly with gloved fingers directly from the rectum region of sheep and goats and the faecal materials were then put in hygienic plastic bottles with 10% formalin. The overall 315 (n=184 sheep and n= 131 goats) faecal samples were collected out of 315 samples, 281 were found positive for different parasites. Patterns-wise prevalence of GI parasites of the study area was found. Overall Single parasitism 89.20% (281/315) with 94.0% (173/184) in sheep and 82.43% (108/131) in goats. Double parasitic infection in small ruminant recorded in which Fasciola+ Haemonchus. contortus in sheep were found their prevalence was 25.54% (47/184). While in goats, the double parasitic infection in which Haemonchus contortus+Trichuris spp were found and their prevalence were 23.43% (30/131). The species found in the sample of sheep were includes, i.e., Strongyloides papillosus (41.30%), Heamonchus controtus (21.73%), Trichuris ovis (17.39%), and Fasciola hepatica (13.58%), the corresponding value for goat were Strongyloides spp 33.33% (36/108), Haemonchus spp 28.70%, (27/108), Trichuris spp 25.20% (27/184) and Fasciola spp 10.68% (14/184). The sheep of the study area are more infected as compared to goats. This study suggested that gastrointestinal parasites are major health problems of small ruminants in the study area. Therefore, a comprehensive study on species of gastrointestinal parasites circulating in the area, control options, cost-effective strategies and awareness about gastrointestinal parasites among the farmers in the study area should be instituted.

Spatial distribution analysis of bovine fascioliasis cases recorded in an abattoir in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil

ABSTRACT: Fascioliasis is a zoonosis of global distribution caused by the parasitic trematode Fasciola spp. Infection in humans can occur in areas endemic for animal fascioliasis, suggesting the need for studies on this parasitosis and its determinants. This exploratory study aimed to analyze the spatial distribution of bovine fascioliasis in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, based on cases notified between 2015 and 2017 in a state abattoir, located in the municipality of Orleans, and to associate disease occurrence with altitude, temperature, and rainfall. The research was conducted at Centro Universitário Barriga Verde (UNIBAVE)/Orleans, SC and Fundação Oswaldo Cruz/Rio de Janeiro, RJ. During the study period, the abattoir received animals from 58 municipalities in that state. Of the animals slaughtered in that period, 10,81% were infected with Fasciola hepatica. Presence of bovine fascioliasis infection was identified in the South and Southeast regions of the state, with higher prevalence rates in the latter. There was an association between low altitudes and higher occurrence of cases in the municipalities assessed. In addition, prevalence of bovine fascioliasis was higher in municipalities with high temperatures and low rainfall. Therefore, these results should be considered for planning disease control measures in the South and Southeast regions of the state of Santa Catarina.

Comparison of polymerase chain reaction and microscopy for the detection of Fasciola spp. in the fecal matter of domestic bovines in Kalasin Province, Thailand

Background and Aim: Fasciola spp. are important foodborne trematodes and waterborne zoonotic parasites that cause health problems and economic losses worldwide, including in Thailand. Fasciola spp. are usually detected by sedimentation or the formalin-ethyl acetate concentration technique (FECT) under microscopy, which is less specific and sensitive. Accurate detection is important to detect real incidence for protection against and elimination of fasciolosis in the area. This study aimed to determine the distribution of Fasciola spp. and compare the specificity and sensitivity of FECT under microscopy to that of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in cattle feces. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in Kalasin Province, Thailand. Feces of 46 cattle were investigated for infection with Fasciola spp. To detect infection, FECT under microscopy and PCR amplification of the 28S rRNA gene of Fasciola spp. were used to identify egg parasites. Results: Feces of 16 of 46 (34.78%) cattle were positive for Fasciola spp. using FECT under microscopy, whereas PCR showed that 67.39% (31 of 46) were positive for Fasciola spp. False-negative results were as high as 32.61% when diagnosed under microscopy. Conclusion: This study confirmed the infection of cattle with Fasciola spp. in Kalasin Province, indicating that PCR demonstrated higher sensitivity and specificity when diagnosing infection. FECT under microscopy can still be used as a primary and traditional method for diagnosis. However, relapse cases of Fasciola spp. and Paramphistomum spp. should be diagnosed by microscopy combined with PCR. This is the first report on the molecular distribution of fecal samples in cattle in Kalasin Province.

Prevalensi Fascioliasis pada Kerbau di Kabupaten Agam, Sumatra Barat, Indonesia

Salah satu permasalahan yang sering dihadapi para peternak kerbau adalah penyakit Fascioliasis yang disebabkan oleh cacing hati atau Fasciola spp., dimana penyakit tersebut adalah salah satu penyakit yang bersifat zoonosis. Oleh sebab itu penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui prevalensi Fasciola spp. pada kerbau di Kabupaten Agam, Sumatra Barat. Sampel berupa feses 105 ekor kerbau dari tiga kecamatan lalu diperiksa dengan menggunakan metode natif (sederhana) dan sedimentasi sederhana. Hasil penelitian diperoleh 25 ekor dari 105 ekor kerbau dinyatakan positif terinfeksi Fasciola spp. Prevalensi yang diperoleh secara keseluruhan adalah 23,81% (25/105), dan hasil ini dapat dikembangkan dalam penelitian lebih lanjut.

Parasitic Contamination of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Sold in Port Harcourt Metropolis Markets, Rivers State, Nigeria

Parasitic contamination of fresh fruits and vegetables sold in selected markets in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria. was investigated. Oil mill and Creek Road were the two major markets in Port Harcourt metropolis area selected for this study. A total of 216 samples of different types of fruits and vegetables were randomly sampled for parasitological examination using normal saline and zinc sulphate floatation techniques. The results showed that out of the 216 samples of vegetables and fruits examined, 87 (40.3%) were infected. The results were statistically significant (P< 0.05). The parasites identified included Entamoeba coli; Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, Balantidium coli, Ascaris lumbricoides, Ancyclostoma spp and Fasciola spp. Entamoeba coli was the most prevalent parasite (83.15%) while Ascaris lumbricodes (1.12%), Ancyclostoma spp (1.12%) and Fasciola spp (1.12%) had least prevalence. There was statistical no difference (P>0.05) in prevalence of parasites genus in the two markets. Tomatoes had the highest contamination rate of (10.6%) followed by waterleaf, bitter leaf, green leaf, pumpkin leaf, pear, orange, and scent leaf with the prevalence rate of 9.3%, 8.8%, 4.6%, 3.2%, 1.9%, 1.4% and 0.5% respectively. Produce contaminated with intestinal parasites poses a serious health challenge to the consumers if they are not properly washed before consumption. Personal hygiene and proper washing of fresh fruit and vegetable before consumption will reduce the prevalence of food-borne parasitic infections.

Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in cattle in Kalasin Province, Thailand

Background and Aim: Parasitic infections are one of the major problems to the production of cattle in Thailand. The study was conducted to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) parasites of cattle in Kalasin Province, Thailand. Materials and Methods: A total of 333 fecal samples of cattle were collected directly from the rectum. The fecal samples were subjected to formalin-ethyl acetate concentration methods for examination. The eggs or oocysts were identified based on the morphology and size of the eggs or oocysts. Results: Out of 333 fecal samples examined, 320 were found positive for GI parasitic infections with a prevalence of 96.09%. Overall, among the prevalence of nematodes, trematodes, and protozoa, the most prevalent parasites were Strongyle-type 278 (84.24%), followed by Strongyloides spp. 54 (16.36%) and Trichuris spp. 75 (22.73%), while Protozoan oocyst recorded Eimeria spp. amounted to 131 (39.7%). Fasciola spp. and Paramphistomum spp. were 67 (20.30%) and 81 (24.55%), respectively. Most of the positive fecal samples were infected with the double infection which has the highest prevalence rate of about 40.24%, followed by single, three, and 4-5 types of parasites 30.63, 16.82, and 7.21%, respectively. Conclusion: This study suggests that Kalasin Province is highly endemic for GI parasites and this area may be an important source for an outbreak. Therefore, every household should deworm its cattle and eliminate and control snails as intermediate hosts. Findings from this study provide information that will assist in improving the cattle in Kalasin Province for better production and higher profitability.

Correlation of the Gastrointestinal Parasitism with the Phytominerals in the Grazing Sheep (Ovis aries)

Trace elements play an important role to boost the immunity and fight against parasitic infections. Concentration of trace elements like Copper (Cu), Cobalt (Co), Manganese (Mn) and Zinc (Zn) were determined in soil, forages and sera of sheep. An associative analysis was also made between the burden of Gastrointestinal (GI) parasites and concentrations of trace elements of sheep sera. For this, 384 faecal and blood samples of sheep, an appropriate number of forages and soil samples were collected. The faecal samples were subjected to determine the species and burden of GI parasites. The sera, plant and soil samples were subjected to pre-treatment (digestion) required for the determination of trace elements. The overall prevalence of GI parasites was 32.81% and the most prevalent species were Haemonchus (H.) contortus followed in order by Eimeria spp., Strongyloides spp., Trichostrongylus spp. and Fasciola spp. Variables like age, sex, breed and tehsils of Silakot district showed an insignificant association with GI parasitic burden. Trace elements concentration of forages showed a significant (P < 0.05) variation while trace elements concentration of soil showed an insignificant (P > 0.05) variation. In serum, Zn concentration showed significant (P < 0.05) results among all the tehsils of study district. Mean concentrations of Mn and Cu in serum were found inversely proportional to the mean egg count per gram of sheep faeces in tehsil Pasroor of the Sialkot district. Forages containing high concentrations of Mn and Cu can be used effectively against GI parasites. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers