STUDIES ON THE CONTROL OF FASCIOLIASIS IN ANDAMAN-AND-NICOBAR ISLANDS

Many clinical as well as subclinical epidemics have been recorded in t hese islands due to Fasciola gigantica infection in buffalo. Bay Islan ds, due to their situation between 6 degrees and 14 degrees lattitude (N) and 92 degrees - 94 degrees longitude (E), posses hot and humid cl imate. The average minimum and maximum temperatures are 23.1 degrees a nd 29.9 degrees C, respectively. The climate can be roughly divided in to rainy season (May-October) and dry season (November to April). Due to lack of distinct season, the life-cycle of most of the parasites go es on uninterrupted throughout the year. The present study was underta ken to explore seasonal variations, if any, in the incidence of fascio losis to devise optimum deworming schedule and to evaluate control mea sures for reducing the incidence.