Epidemiological investigation and Factors affecting the Gastrointestinal parasitism in Cattle at selected areas of kotalipara upazila of Gopalganj district in Bangladesh

Abstract

The investigation of the GI parasite’s epidemiology and associated risk factors in cattle was the study’s main goal. A total of 211 fecal samples from 92 bulls and 119 cows were collected from Pinjuri and Hiron unions of Kotalipara upazila of Gopalganj district from February, 2023 to April, 2023. Fecal samples were collected directly from the ground when the animals were found in the act of defecation or immediately after defecation. On the day of collection, the samples were evaluated at the BAPARD Laboratory using conventional coprological methods. A pretested questionnaire was utilised to capture the essential animal data during sample collection. The cattle were separated into three age groups, including 0 to 1 year, 1 to 2 years, and 2 years; various sex groups, including male and female; different health status groups, including poor and normal; and different breeds, including indigenous non-descriptive and crossbred. The total incidence of gastrointestinal parasitism was 45.49% (n=96/211), with Toxocara spp. (19.90%), Strongyloides spp. (3.79%), and Haemonchus spp. being the most frequently found parasites. and Bunostomum spp. (8.06%), Paramphistomum spp. (10.43%), Paramphistomum spp. and Fasciola sp. (1.42%) and Moniezia spp. (1.89%). The parasitic prevalence load was higher in crossbred (50.36%) than non-descriptive indigenous breed (36.48%). In another instance, female cattle (47.05%) slightly outnumber male cattle (43.47%). The parasitic load was higher in young (≥1 year) comparatively growing (<1 to ≥2 year) and adult (< 2 years) cattle. In this study areas, prevalence of gastrointestinal parasite shows slightly higher in Hiron union (45.87%) comparatively Pinjuri union (45.09%). So, the study indicates high percentage of infection found in crossbred, female and young animals.