Prevalence, population dynamics and pathological effects of intestinal helminths in Black Bengal goats were studied by examining 150 viscera collecting from different slaughter houses of Mymensingh district from the period of November 2005 to May 2006 in the Department of Parasitology and Pathology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, of which 94.67% goats were infected with one or more species of helminths. A total of 5 species of helminth parasites were identified such as Oesophagostomum columbianum (92%), Trchuris ovis (56.66%), Schistosoma indicum (38%), Moniezia expansa (10.66%) and Moniezia benedeni (2.66%). Single infection was observed in case of O. columbianum (16%) and S. indicum (2.66%). Single sex infection was established by S. indicum male (5.33%). Overall mean parasitic burden was 34.02±2.20. Mean parasitic burden was the highest in case of O. columbianum (29.91±2.00) followed by that of T. ovis (5.70±0.47), S. indicum (4.66±0.42), M. expansa (2.59±0.54) and M. benedeni (1.00±00). Prevalence of intestinal helminth was significantly (P<0.05) higher in winter (100%) than that in summer (89.33%). Calculated odds ratio in between winter and summer was 18, which indicated that Black Bengal goats were 18 times more susceptible to helminth infection in winter. Parasitic burden was also higher in winter (41.53±3.15) than that in summer (25.52±2.57) season. Pathological lesions were observed in case of O. columbianum, T. ovis and S. indicum infection. In O. columbianum infection, hard, raised, slightly yellowish to greenish colored nodules measuring 0.25×0.50 cm were observed. Microscopically, it was characterized by catarrhal inflammation associated with destruction and desquamation of epithelial cells. Affected tissues were infiltrated chiefly with lymphocytes, macrophages, a few eosinophils and occasionally with plasma cells and neutrophils. Caseation and fibrous tissue proliferation were also noticed. But moderate infection with T. ovis was characterized by catarrhal inflammation along with the petechial haemorrhages on the intestinal mucosa where parasites were firmly attached. Histopathologically, it was characterized by destruction of lining epithelium of villi of caecum and colon along with the cellular infiltration predominantly with lymphocytes, few eosinophils and occasionally by macrophages. Lymph nodes of the lamina propria were enlarged. In case of S. indicum infection, haemorrhages were observed particularly on the rectal mucosa. Numerous eggs were found in the mucosal scraping from intestinal surface. Microscopically, lamina propria was thick and inflammed. Granulomatous response was observed which was characterized by the infiltration of epitheloid cells and proliferation of fibroblasts. The present study clearly suggests that Black Bengal goats are susceptible to intestinal helminths in both winter and summer seasons and most of the parasites recovered were associated with the production of variable degree of pathological lesions. That is why proper attempts should be ...

To investigate the prevalence of amphistome parasites in Black Bengal goats slaughtered at different slaughterhouses of Mymensingh district, a total of 144 gastro-intestinal tracts were examined during the period of July 1998 to June 1999 in the Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. Out of 144 Black Bengal goats, 105 (72.92%) were infected with a single or multiple species of amphistomes. In present investigation, three species of amphistomes viz Paramphistomum cervi, Cotylophoron cotylophorum and Gastrothylax crumenifer were identified. The highest infection was observed with Paramphistomum cervi (65.28%) and lowest infection with Cotylophoron cotylophorum (36.11%). Mixed infections with two or more species of amphistomes were found in 60.42%. Age had a significant (p<0.01) influence on the prevalence of amphistomes in goat. A higher prevalence (89.58%) was observed in older animals followed by young animals (78.57%), whereas a lower prevalence (45.0%) in growing animals. However, the prevalence increased with the increase of age. The females (75.0%) were found more (1.44 times) susceptible to amphistomes infection than the males (67.5%). The prevalence of amphistomes was very high all the year round and the rate of infection was 83.64%, 69.23% and 64.0% during monsoon, winter and summer season respectively. The present study concluded that Black Bengal goats are susceptible to amphistome infection irrespective of age, sex and season of the year. So, control of these parasites is essential and the further investigation is needed, focusing on control procedures of amphistomes infection in goats.

A study was conducted to investigate the population density of helminth parasites in domestic ducks (Anas boschas domesticus) in relation to host's age, sex, breed and seasons of the year from March 2002 to May 2003. A total of 300 ducks were collected from different villages of Netrokona and Mymensingh districts of Bangladesh and autopsied to collect the parasites and counted to determine the population density of parasites. Off 300 ducks examined, 290 (96.66%) were infected with 17 species of helminth parasites in which 11 species were trematodes, 4 were cestodes and 2 nematodes. Among the parasites, density of cestodes was the highest (33.15±5.26), followed by trematodes (5.98±1.32); and nematodes (2.95±0.68). Mean density of parasites increased with the increase of age (young: 21.23±1.09, adult: 26.18±2.14 and old: 27.87±2.98) while the mean density of most of the helminth parasites was higher in female ducks (31.35±4.72) than in males (27.52±3.32). Indigenous ducks (33.72±3.61) were infected with the highest load of helminths than Khaki Campbell breed (29.61±4.32) of ducks. Mean density of most trematodes (5.42±0.80) were highest in winter season whereas mean density of all cestodes (48.43±4.85) and nematodes (4.13±1.76) were highest in summer. The present study suggests that age, sex, breed of ducks and seasons of the year influence the parasitic infection to a greater extend. Key words: Population density, helminths, duck, Bangladesh INTRODUCTIONThe duck fulfill a great proportion of protein deficiency in people of Bangladesh in the form of meat and eggs and also acts as a tool of poverty alleviation in Bangladesh. Ducks contribute 1642 million eggs and 163 million ton meat per year (1999)(2000) in our country (Anon, 2001). Although geographical location, sub-tropical climatic condition of Bangladesh is suitable for duck habitation and her water lodged and low-lying areas are also favorable for duck rearing, but this environment also favors the growth, multiplication, development, survival and spread of the parasites. As a result, almost all of the ducks suffer from parasitic diseases (Farjana et al., 2004) which affect the growth and production performance of ducks in Bangladesh (Anisuzzaman et al., 2005). The system of management, the nutritional status, the ecology of the parasites and their host-parasite relationship exert significant effect on the occurrence of the helminth infection in ducks. Ahmed (1969), Fariduddin (1975, Qadir (1979) and Islam et al. (1988) have undertaken a number of studies on parasitism in ducks of Bangladesh. But the population density of helminths of ducks in relation to their age, sex, breed and season of the year in Bangladesh was not studied yet clearly. So, the present study was designed with a view to find out the effect of the age, sex, breed of ducks and seasons of the year on the population density of helminth parasites in ducks.

Mosquito borne diseases have a great impact on human and animal health throughout the world including Bangladesh. An entomological survey was conducted at the Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) campus and its surrounding areas from January to June, 2013 to identify the mosquito larvae and to investigate the different breeding site preferences of mosquitoes. Mosquito larvae were collected using dipper, ladle spoon, dropper and pipette from rice field, botanical garden, dairy farm, poultry farm, drains, lakes, ponds, staff quarters, residential halls and cattle sheds. A total of 1397 mosquito larvae were collected from the places. Ten species of mosquitoes under three genera were identified. The recorded genera were Anopheles (An.), Culex (Cx.) and Aedes (Ae.). The collected species were An. bengalensis, An. vagus, Cx. fuscocephala, Cx. quinquefasciatus, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus, Cx. gelidus, Cx. vishnui, Cx. whitmorei, Cx. sitiens and Ae. albopictus. Among the collected larvae, Culex was found most prevalent (64.3%), followed by Anopheles (26.7%) and Aedes were the least prevalent (9.0%). The results of this study provide evidence that drains were the most common aquatic habitat of Anopheles and Culex larvae in Boyra, Kewatkhali and Balashpur. In BAU campus, agronomy fields were found having the highest percentage (35.2%) of mosquito larvae than the other places of the campus. This study suggests that although drains and rice fields are the richest habitats, since Anopheles and Culex can breed in all available breeding habitats. This larval survey will help us to conduct future mosquito control activities and provide us useful information to schedule larvicide’s application to control the mosquito borne diseases in the study areas as well as throughout the country.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjvm.v13i1.23962Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2015). 13 (1): 79-88

In vitro efficacy of five indigenous plants namely Bishkatali (Polygonum hydropiper), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Papaya (Carica papaya), Korolla (Momordica charantia) and Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) were studied against the development of Ascaridia galli eggs from July 2007 to May 2008. Fresh juice, extracts and dust of leaves were tested. Fresh juice of leaves were trialed at 5%, 10% and 20% concentrations; aqueous, ethanol and methanol extracts were used at 1%, 2% and 4% concentrations and dusts of leaves were applied at 10% and 20% concentration. Among the trials, 4% of methanol extracts of papaya showed the highest efficacy (92.86%) followed by 4% ethanol extract of papaya (92%). Among the selected plants and in all three concentrations of fresh juice of leave, Bishkatali (88.46% at 20% conc.) was the highest effective plant against the development of A. galli eggs. Papaya showed the highest efficacy (71.42%) in 1% aqueous solution, but bishkatali was found as the best (73.33% and 83.33% respectively) in 2% and 4% concentration of ethanol extract of the five selected plants. In vitro screening of 5 plants with ethanol extract revealed that papaya was the highest efficacious plant (92% at 4% conc.) against development of A. galli eggs. Among the plants, in all concentrations of methanol extract of leaves, papaya was observed as best plant (92.86%, 88% and 78.95% at 4%, 2% and 1% of conc. respectively) followed by bishkatali (80% and 75% at 4% and 2% of conc. respectively) and neem (78.57% and 73.08% at 4% and 2% conc. respectively). In two concentrations of dust of leaves, bishkatali was observed as the effective plant (75% at 20% and 73.33% at 10% conc.) among the five plants. The present study suggests that dust of bishkatali leaves can be used with litter for inhibition of development of A. galli eggs and fresh juice and extract of bishkatali, neem and papaya may be impregnated in litter and used after sun dry.