Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263145, India.
Epidemiological studies on the prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) in cattle and buffaloes of 13 districts of Uttarakhand, India were carried out for 6 years from January, 2001 to December, 2006. Out of a total 48,416 faecal samples examined, 13.88% were found positive for GIN. In cattle, an overall prevalence of 17.79% was observed as compared to 9.78% in buffaloes. In Hill and Tarai cattle, a prevalence rate of 17.54% and 17.87%, respectively was recorded. The Hill buffaloes were found to be less affected (2.86%) as compared to buffalo of Tarai (16.84%). Monthly faecal examination revealed the highest prevalence of GIN in the month of June (22.54%) and April (37.95%), respectively for Tarai and Hill cattle. The same were observed in the month of September (20.68%) and May (25.28%) for Tarai and Hill buffaloes, respectively. The intensity of infection (mean EPG) was highest in the month of November (29.86) and August (80.09) for Tarai buffaloes and cattle, respectively. However, it was recorded in the month of May for Hill buffaloes (21.73) and cattle (166.46). In coproculture examination, both cattle and buffaloes were found harbouring predominantly Haemonchus sp. The worms Trichostrongylus sp., Oesophagostomum sp., Bunostomum sp. and Ostertagia sp. Cooperia sp. larvae were recorded from cattle and Paracooperia sp. from buffalo coprocultures, respectively.
Prevalence, Gastrointestinal nematodes, Cattle, Buffalo, Uttarakhand
