A Comparative Study of Gastrointestinal Parasites among Intensive, Semi- Intensive and Abandoned Cattle in Kathmandu District, Nepal

Abstract

Animals suffer from several infectious and non-infectious diseases especially that originate from parasites. To compare the gastrointestinal parasites between intensive, semi-intensive and abandoned cattle in Kathmandu district, a total of 300 dung samples were collected (100 from each three groups) and collected samples were preserved in airtight sterile vials containing 10% formalin solution and transported to the parasitology laboratory of Central Department of Zoology, Kirtipur and processed using direct and concentration method. Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of Kathmandu district is 53%, 61% and 72% in intensive, semi-intensive and abandoned cattle respectively. Sex wise prevalence of this study revealed 36.36% in male and 49.44% in female of intensive cattle and there was statistically not significant association (χ² = 0.627, df = 1, p-value = 0.592>0.05). The overall gastro-intestinal parasitic infection in semi-intensive cattle were 70.27% in male and 55.56% in female but there was statistically not significant association (χ² = 0.294, df = 1, p-value = 0.587>0.05). The overall gastro-intestinal parasitic infection in abandoned cattle were 73.68% in male and 69.76% in female and there was statistically not significant association (χ² =0.0003, df = 1, p-value = 0.986>0.05). Out of 10 calves, 17 heifers and 73 adults in intensive cattle, gastrointestinal parasitic infection was were 30.00%, 35.29% and 60.27% in calves, heifers and adult respectively and association of parasitic infection with age was not statically significant (χ² = 3.781, df = 5, p-value = 0.602>0.05). Similar result revealed by semi-intensive cattle from 16 calves, 23 heifers and 61 adult, among them gastrointestinal parasitic infection was 56.25%, 56.52% and 63.93% in calves, heifers and adult respectively and association of parasitic infection with age was not statically significant (χ² = 2.612, df = 5, p-value = 0.809>0.05). But in case of abandoned cattle, among 14 calves, 17 heifers and 69 adult, among them gastrointestinal parasitic infection was 8.33%, 27.78% and 63.89% in calves, heifers and adult respectively and results revealed the association of parasitic infection with age was statically significant (χ² = 12.562, df = 5, p-value = 0.02499<0.05). There was not statically significant relationship between local breeds and cross breeds of all three categories (P>0.05). Heavy intensity was found only in case of Fascioloa in all three categories. This study revealed that the abandoned cattle have high prevalence (72%) of gastrointestinal parasitic infections than others. GI parasites of Cow may get transmitted to other animal as well as man.