Epidemiology of parasitoses in dairy animals in the North West Humid Himalayan Region of India with particular reference to gastrointestinal nematodes

A systematic survey was conducted during two spells of 5 years each (1986-1 990 and 1993-1997) to study the prevalence of parasitoses with particular r eference to gastrointestinal (GI) nematodes and flukes in dairy animals (cr ossbred and native cattle, and buffaloes) belonging to 12 villages in the K angra valley (Himachal Pradesh). Flukes (Fasciola, amphistomes and Dicrocoe lium) and strongyles were the most important parasitic infections. Fasciola was endemic throughout the year, with a higher percentage infection in buf faloes than in cattle. Other fluke and nematode infections showed a seasona l pattern in prevalence, with a small peak in March-April followed by a hig h peak in July-September. The faecal egg counts (eggs per gram, epg) of flu kes (Fasciola/amphistomes) ranged from 50 to 300 in cattle and 50 to 400 in buffaloes, with high loads during the rainy and post-rainy seasons. The GI nematode egg counts (excluding Toxocara) revealed a similar trend, with th e overall monthly mean epg ranging from 85 to 1720 in cattle and 90 to 1625 in buffaloes, with a high peak during the months of July to September. On coproculture of positive samples, the nematode infections in order of preva lence were: Strongyloides, Trichostrongylus, Haemonchus, Oesophagostomum, B unostomum and Mecistocirrus. The prevalence of most of the parasites was lo wer during the second 5-year period.