Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Bovines of the Department of Boyacá, Colombia

Abstract

Parasitic diseases are considered to be one of the most prevalent pathologies worldwide. They are characterized as one of the most critical sanitary problems in cattle, causing a decrease in the productive capacity of parasitized animals, which translates into economic losses. Intestinal parasitism in cattle is caused by protozoa and helminths, and its manifestation is generally multi-etiological. Clinical signs in gastrointestinal parasitism may vary depending on parasite load, parasite species, and host immunity. This research aimed to determine the prevalence of the main parasitic families affecting cattle in the central province of the department of Boyacá. A cross-sectional study with simple random sampling was carried out, where 716 fecal samples were taken and processed using a modified Ritchie technique. An overall prevalence of 95,6% was determined, and the most prevalent families were Trichostrongylidae, Eimeriidae, Taeniidae, and Trichuridae. The age showed no significant statistical association with most of the parasitic families, except for the Strongyloididae family. The breeds showed a correlation with the Trichostrongylidae, Eimeriidae, Strongylidae, Chabertiidae, and Taeniidae families. The results show the high prevalence of GIP (gastrointestinal parasites) in cattle of the central province of the department of Boyacá.