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The present study aimed to investigate the seasonal epidemiological prevalence of gastro-intestinal nematodes (GINs) of goats with respect to sex and age of the host in the Kashmir valley from 1 February 2005 to 31 January 2007. A total of 1267 goats were examined [faecal examination: 938 (year 1: 470; year 2: 468); gastro-intestinal (GIT) examination: 329 (year 1: 175; year 2: 154)]. The overall prevalence of GIN infection in these animals was 54.3% (year 1: 54.8%; year 2: 53.8%; P = 0.842). The different parasites reported with their respective prevalences (%) were: Haemonchus contortus (48.3); Bunostomum trigonocephalum (30.1); Chabertia. ovina (29.8); Ostertagia circumcincta (29.8); Nematodirus spathiger (25.2); Trichostrongylus spp. (25.1); Oesophagostomum columbianum (23.5); Trichuris ovis (19.0); and Marshallagia marshalli (16.6). The mean maximum prevalence of GIN infection (faecal examination: 75.6 +/- 0.20; GIT examination: 85.3 +/- 0.95), faecal egg counts (2552 +/- 85.7) and average worm burden (333.25 +/- 2.25) were found in the summer and they were lowest in winter (prevalence: faecal examination, 23.2 +/- 0.95; GIT examination, 12.7 +/- 0.20; faecal egg counts: 134.15 +/- 9.15; and average worm burden: 79.8 +/- 52.2), with significant differences between the seasons (P < 0.05). The sex of the hosts was not an important factor influencing the prevalence of GIN infection. With the increase in host age, prevalence of infection decreased significantly (P > or = 0.05). Thus seasonal dynamics and age of the host animals significantly influenced the prevalence of GIN infection. The above findings will be helpful in devising the appropriate control strategies for GINs of goats reared under the traditional husbandry system in temperate agro-climatic conditions in the Kashmir valley as well as in similar climatic zones of other parts of the world.

Achillea millifolium Linn., commonly called 'Pehl-ghasa', is used by farmers in traditional animal health care as a vermifuge. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anthelmintic efficacy of crude aqueous extracts and crude ethanolic extracts of entire A. millifolium against the gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep. The worm motility inhibition assay was used for in vitro studies and faecal egg count reduction assay was used for in vivo studies. In vitro studies revealed significant anthelmintic effects of aqueous extracts and ethanolic extracts on live Haemonchus contortus worms (P < 0.05) as evident from their paralysis and/or death at 8 h post exposure. Aqueous extracts of A. millifolium resulted in a mean worm motility inhibition of 94.44%, while ethanolic extracts resulted in mean worm motility inhibition of 88.88%. The mean mortality index of aqueous extracts was 0.95 while for ethanolic extracts it was 0.9. The lethal concentration 50 was 0.05 mg ml(-1) for aqueous extracts and 0.11 mg ml(-1) for ethanolic extracts. The in vivo anthelmintic activity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of A. millifolium demonstrated a maximum (88.40%) nematode egg count reduction in sheep treated with aqueous extracts at 2 g kg(-1) body weight on day 15 after treatment. Ethanolic extracts resulted in a maximum of 76.53% reduction in faecal egg counts on day 15 after treatment with 2 g kg(-1) body weight. Thus, the aqueous extracts exhibited greater anthelmintic activity under both in vitro and in vivo conditions, and could be due to the presence of water-soluble active principle/s in A. millifolium. It is concluded that the entire plant of A. millifolium possesses significant anthelmintic activity and could be a potential alternative for treating cases of helminth infections in ruminants.

An epidemiological study with the objective to assess the prevalence of paramphistomosis in association with season, age, sex and breed was carried out in naturally infected sheep over a period of two years from February 2005 to January 2007. Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and faecal examination were conducted monthly to monitor the seasonal occurrence of paramphistomosis. 793 sheep were examined in the first year, out of which 7.06% were positive for Paramphistomum infection. In the second year, 740 animals were investigated and 7.7% were infected. The overall prevalence of paramphistomosis was 7.3% with a mean of 56.50 +/- 0.50 and 95% confidence interval (CI) (lower bound: 50.1469; upper bound: 62.8531). The prevalence of paramphistomosis through GIT examination (P = 0.593) was 7.6% at 95% CI (lower bound: -19.1186; upper bound: 57.1186) and the prevalence through faecal examination (P = 0.884) was 7.2% at 95% CI (lower bound: 5.7345; upper bound: 69.2655). Generally, season and age were the factors found to have a significant influence on the risk of paramphistomosis in sheep. The highest infection was found in the summer season (P < 0.005); lower age groups (P < 0.005) in males and in migratory (Bhakarwal) breed (P >or= 0.005). Winter, adult animals, females and local breed reported low infection. The present study will be of great significance to understand the epidemiology of gastrointestinal helminthes of sheep initially in the resource poor communities of Himalayan region and will definitely be helpful to devise appropriate control strategies for paramphistomosis.