A survey on the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites in locally reared cattle was conducted in central zone of Kashmir valley (September, 2009 to August, 2010). A total of 960 faecal samples were examined of which 749 (78.02%) were found positive for one or more gastrointestinal helminth parasites. Overall prevalence of platyhelminths was found to be 29.37 per cent with trematodes and cestodes in 27.39 and 4.16 per cent animals, respectively. Fasciola sp. (16.45%) was the most prevalent trematode followed by paramphistomes (13.12%) and Dicrocoelium sp. (2.08%). Among cestodes the only genus reported was Moniezia sp. with prevalence of 4.10 per cent. Overall prevalence of nemathelminths was 76.66 per cent. Among nemathelminths, the prevalence of strongyle worms was found highest (73.85%) followed by Trichuris sp. (5.41%), Strongyloides sp. (3.58%) and Toxocara vitulorum (1.04%). Seasonal variation revealed highest prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites during winter (86.50%) followed by spring (81.33%), summer (72.69%) and autumn (71.50%). Young cattle had higher gastrointestinal helminths parasite (84.92%) than adults (75.29%) but trematodes infection was found high in adults. Overall gastrointestinal helminth infections were recorded higher in female cattle (82.46%) in comparison to the males (63.91%). Overall prevalence of mixed gastrointestinal helminth parasites was found to be 24.06 per cent. However, quantitative faecal examination revealed overall 242.66±17.61 egg per gram of the faeces (EPG). Coproculture revealed predominance of Haemonchus sp. (33.78%) amongst all the strongyle worms.
Prevalence, Gstrointestinal helminths, Cattle, Kashmir Valley
