Incidence of intestinal parasitism in mithun (Bos frontalis)

Faecal samples from mithun of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland were examined for the presence of intestinal parasites. Systematic studies on the incidence of intestinal parasites in mithun (irrespective of strain) revealed that the number of animals found positive for parasitic infections was 70.27%. Overall incidence of different parasites recorded was strongyles (54.05%), coccidian sp. (13.51%), Fasciola sp., Fascioloides sp. and Dictyocaulus sp. (10.81%), Schistosoma bovis (5.40%), Schistosoma indicum (2.70%) and Paramphistomum sp. and Moniezia expansa (5.40%). When the incidence of parasitic infections was compared, the mithuns from Nagaland were found to be 100% infected followed by those from Mizoram (66.70%), Manipur (60.00%) and Arunachal Pradesh (55.60%). The rate of infection was found to be higher in young animals (1-3 months) and the parasites mostly recorded in young animals were Eimeria sp., Strongyloidespapillosus and Toxocara vitulorum.