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