TO STUDY THE GASTRO-INTESTINAL HELMINTH PARASITES OF BUFFALOES WITH ITS THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION USING AVAILABLE ANTHELMINTICS

Abstract

The present study was carried out to detect the prevalence, seasonal variation of helminth infestation in buffalo and the therapeutic intervention of Triclabendazole (Fasinex®) and Nitroxynil (Nitronex®) against fascioliasis and Levamisole (Ralnex®) and Thiophanate (Nemafax®) against gastro-intestinal nematodiasis. Impact of such therapeutic programme in terms of body weight gain and milk production was also investigated. The study was conducted from July 2009 to June 2010. A total of 232 faecal samples collected from the buffaloes were examined of which 199 (85.78%) were found to be positive with parasitic infestations. The prevalence of infestation in animals were observed as follows: Paramphistomum spp in 31.03%, Fasciola spp. in 27.59%, Trichostrongyles spp. in 9.05%, Haemonchus spp. in 6.47%, Trichuris spp. in 3.88%, Toxocara spp. in 3.88% and Strongyloides sp 2.16% and Moniezia sp. in 1.72%. The overall lowest, intermediate and highest prevalence of helminth infestation (for all worms) were found during summer (78.37%), rainy (83.33%) and winter seasons (93.47%) respectively. Treatment with Triclabendazole @ 12 mg/kg body weight orally against fascioliasis significantly (p<0.01) reduced fecal egg counts nearly zero on 28" day, treatment with Nitroxynil @ 1.5 ml/ 50kg body weight S/C on 21" day. Treatment with Levamisole @ 7.5 mg/kg body weight orally and Thiophanate @ 1 gm/14kg body weight orally against gastro-intestinal nematodiasis significantly (p<0.01) reduced fecal egg counts nearly zero on 21% day and 28" day respectively. Average body weight gain after treated with Nitronex®, Fasinex®, Ralnex® and Nemafax® were 3.36%, 3.77%, 4.43% and 11.59% respectively after 3 months of treatment. In control animals the mean body weights were - 1.04% and 0.126 % respectively. Assessment of milk production was evaluated after Nitronex® treatment. The overall milk yield per buffalo cow per day was found to be increased by 10.74 % in buffalo cows treated with Nitronex®. In ix control group, milk production was decreased by 10.00 % per buffalo cow per day. The effect of Nitronex® treatment in increasing milk production was not significant (P> 0.01). Finally it could be suggested that buffaloes affected with various parasites has seasonal variation. Nitronex® against fascioliasis could be and Ralnex® against gastro-intestinal nematodiasis considered as more potential of anthelmintic drugs. Further more it has been found that anthelmintic has positive impact on production status in terms of weight gain and milk production.