Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Occurrence of Blood Protozoan Disease in Cattle of Ramgram Municipality, Nawalparasi District, Nepal

Abstract

Haemoparsites have generally been shown to cause destruction of red blood cells resulting in anemia, jaundice, anorexia, weight loss and infertility. The study was conducted from June to August 2017 in Nawalparasi district of Ramgram municipality to show the prevalence and risk factors associated with occurrence of blood protozoan disease in cattle. A total of 150 blood samples of cattle were collected by puncturingjugular vein of cattle. The samples were brought to the DLSO Nawalparasi lab in EDTA containing vials for thin blood preparation and Giemsa staining. Microscopic examination of blood samples revealed that the overall prevalence of haemoprotozoan parasites were17.33%. Three species of parasites were identified with 12 (8%) Anaplasma sp., 10 (6.66%) Babesia sp., 4(2.66%) Theileria sp.Statistically, the disease was found to beprevalent throughout the region with no significance association between infections as the dependent variables like age, sex, body conditions, herd size and localities. The infection in all ages of cattle and highest percentage of infection occurs in age groups 4-8 years(10%) while lower prevalence of infection occurs in the cattle of eight years above. The study showed high prevalence of infection in crossbreed (6.66%) as compared to local breed (4%) and effect of sex of cattle showed high prevalence in female (13.33%) than male (4%). Good body condition (9.33%) of cattle recorded higher prevalence of haemoprotozoan than poor condition (8%). Herd wise infection was found to be high in >10 herd size (12.22%). Thus awareness programs should be organized to educate farmers about tick borne diseases and tick control measurement in order to establish or maintain enzootic stability.