International Journal of Research in Economics and Social Sciences

Paramphistomiasis is one of the most pathogenic diseases in domesticated animals causing heavy economic losses to livestock industry on the tune of several million rupees annually. During the study period carried out on 1064 animals which were scanned for Helminth parasites at different slaughter houses of Kashmir valley and from these 147 hosts were found positive for Amphistome specimens. Besides other parasites Amphistome specimen number was found very high (approx. 12000) with a prevalence of 13.81% and were recovered from Districts of Pulwama, Shopian, Baramulla, Budgam, Kulgam and Anantnag of Kashmir Valley. Paramphistomiasis is caused by various species of rumen fluke, of which the most important specimens collected during the study were; Paramphistomum, Cotylophoron, Gastrothylax, Explanatum and Calicophoron in Kashmir valley but owing to unresolved taxonomic issues, precise identification of these species is often problematic. A perusal survey carried on different aspects of Helmianthiasis is scanty while negligible work has so far been undertaken on the Morphology, Epidemiology and Histopathology of Bublines and Bovines of Kashmir valley. This formed the basis for undertaking the present report and redescription of Paramphistomum cervi Fischoeder, 1901.