Epidemiology and transmission factors of gastrointestinal parasites in cow calves in different agro-climatic zones of Punjab

Epidemiology of gastrointestinal (GI) parasitic infections in cow calves, aged upto 6 months, from 13 districts falling in 4 major agro-climatic zones of Punjab state of India was studied during the period from May, 2008 to April, 2009. A total of 627 faecal samples were examined and the overall prevalence of GI parasitic infection was 61.40%. The prevalence of Toxocara vitulorum, strongyle, Strongyloides spp., Eimeria spp. and Moniezia spp. was 2.71, 23.29, 14.51, 44.18 and 3.67 per cent, respectively. The overall prevalence of parasitic infections was almost comparable and no significant difference (P≥0.05) was recorded among the two sexes of cow calves. However, strongyle and Eimeria spp. infection showed a positive correlation with age. The prevalence of various parasitic infections was found to be highest in rainy season with significant differences (P≤0.01) as compared to summer and winter seasons. Among the various agro-climatic zones, highest prevalence of T. vitulorum, Strongyloides spp. and Eimeria spp. was recorded from undulating plain region of Punjab.