Preparation of bioclimatograph for strongylosis in small ruminants of tarai region of Uttarakhand

A study was carried out in and around Pantnagar to prepare a bioclimatograph of strongyle worms infecting small ruminants. Three climatic variables i.e. temperature (maximum and minimum), average relative humidity and total rainfall were recorded for each month from June, 2010 to May, 2011 and correlated with faecal egg count, faecal larval count and pasture larval count of grazing area under study. Bioclimatographs were prepared against different climatic variables and the predicted findings were correlated with actual field study. The real time observations in goats revealed higher incidence of strongyle worms from June to October and higher intensity from July to October. The higher availability of infection of exogenous stages on pasture was observed from June to October. In case of sheep, the real time observations for higher incidence of strongyle worms and higher infection were recorded from July to October and from August to November, respectively. Bioclimatograph predicted that June to October was the favorable for development and survival of eggs and larvae of Haemonchus spp. and Oesophagostomum spp. and for Trichostrongylus spp. from October to mid March. Bioclimatographs revealed that Tmax. v/s TRF and Tmax. v/s R.H. gave better prediction for Haemonchus spp. and Oesophagostomum spp. while for Trichostrongylus spp. it was Tmin v/s R.H.