PREVALENCE OF SUBCLINICAL GASTRO-INTESTINAL PARASITOSIS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON MILK PRODUCTION WITH THERAPEUTIC MANAGEMENT IN RED CHITTAGONG CATTLE

Abstract

The prevalence of sub-clinical gastro-intestinal parasitosis and their effects on health and milk production with therapeutic management were studied in 87 Red Chittagong cattle (RCC) reared at the Bangladesh Agricultural University Dairy Farm (BAUDF), Mymensingh during the period from March to July 2008. Of the 87 RCC aged between 1 to 96 months which included 22 milch cows, 15 pregnant cows, 8 dry cows, 18 weaned calves and 24 unweaned calves. Parasitological examination of faecal samples of all the selected 87 RCC showed that 51.72% (n = 45) animals affected with different types of gastro-intestinal parasites, of which 37.93% had single, 12.64% had dual and only 1.15% animals had triple types of infection. An overall 34.48% paramphistomiasis, 25.29% balantidiasis, 2.30% toxocariasis, 2.30% strongyloidiasis, 1.15% trichuriasis and 1.15% fascioliasis was recorded in RCC. However, toxocariasis (18.75%), strongyloidiasis (18.75%) and trichuriasis (6.25%) were recorded in calves up to 6 months old, and paramphistomiasis (34.48%) and fascioliasis (1.15%) in cattle more than 6 months of age whereas balantidiasis (25.29%) was recorded in all age groups of cattle. The anthelmintic efficacy of the combined commercial preparations with Tetramisole hydrochloride 2.0g and Oxyclozanide 1.4g per bolus (Levanid®, Acme ; Tetranid®, Techno Drugs) @ 1 bolus / 100 kg body weight with a single oral dose caused 100% reduction of faecal egg count at day 7 post-treatment. A single oral dose of 1% copper sulfate solution @ 10 ml / kg and metranidazole (Flagyl®, Aventis) @ 4 mg /kg body weight resulted 100% and 42.85% reduction of Balantidium coli trophozoites, respectively. The average milk production records of RCC affected with gastro-intestinal parasitosis (1.41litre / day / animal) were compared with the mean milk production records at day 7 post-anthelmintic treatment (1.73 liter / day / animal) and results showed an average increased milk yield +0.32 litre / day / animal. This study indicates that RCC affected with sub-clinical gastro-intestinal parasitosis caused ill-health and decrease milk yield like zebu and cross-bred cattle. It may be concluded from this study that the RCC should be regularly monitored through faecal examination for the presence of gastro-intestinal parasites in order to provide rational treatment and control management to make the RCC farming profitable. DOI = 10.3329/bjvm.v8i1.7395 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2010). 8(1): 11-16