Incidence of gastro intestinal parasites in cattle of fringe villages of chakrashila wild life sanctuary in B.T.A.D. (Assam) in post monsoon period

Abstract

Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary falling under the two districts of Lower Assam under BTAD (Bodoland Territorial Area Districts) of Dhubri and Kokrajhar and covers approximately 45.568 kms2. The humid climatic condition of Assam is very conducive for the growth and multiplication of parasites and cause clinical and subclinical parasitism. Subclinical infections are responsible for high morbidity and mortality in young animals and enormous production losses in adults. Different species of gastrointestinal parasites including zoonotic parasites of public health importance have been reported from cattle of this region. The monsoon season is the ideal time for the mass propagation of parasitic load in environment. The average overall prevalence rate occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in cattle was found to be 64.45% in these villages wherein the main parasitic load was of Fasciola gigantica, Toxocara vitulorum, Eimeria sp., Amphistome sp., and Buxtonella sp. in both Choraikhola and Harinaguri villages wherein there was a gradual decrease in parasitic load from the month of October towards December-2018. Coccidiosis due to Eimeria sp. from Choraikhola and Harinaguri were found to be the predominating disease with an overall prevalence of (44.45%) and (62.23%) respectively, which is in accordance with the earlier findings of coccidiosis in buffalo calves in winter months in India.