A coprological survey of gastro-intestinal parasites of water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in Kurigram district of Bangladesh

Epidemiology of gastro-intestinal parasites of water buffaloes was investigated in Kurigram district of Bangladesh between November 2007 and October 2008 through coprological examination. A total of 236 water buffaloes were examined, among them 144 (61.02%) buffaloes were found infected with one or more species of gastro-intestinal parasites. Nine species of gastro-intestinal parasites were identified, of them four species were trematodes, namely, Paramphistomum cervi (29.24%), Fasciola gigantica (22.46%), Schistosoma indicum (1.27%), Schistosoma spindale (0.85%); three species were nematodes, namely, Toxocara vitulorum (2.54%), Strongyles (0.85%), Strongyloides sp. (0.42%) and two species were protozoa, namely, Eimeria sp. (3.39%) and Balantidium coli (37.29%). No cestode was detected. Among the gastro-intestinal parasites mixed infection was common. In this investigation, prevalence of parasites in relation to age, sex and seasonal dynamics was also studied. Significantly (p<0.01) higher prevalence of gastro-intestinal parasites was observed in rainy season followed by summer and winter seasons. Males and females were almost equally (odd ratio 1.08) susceptible to gastro-intestinal parasitic infection. In the age groups, young (< 2 to 5 years) were mostly (p<0.01) susceptible to gastro-intestinal parasites. In the present study, EPG (Egg/cyst Per Gram of Feces) was also determined. The range of EPG varied from 100-5000 among the identified parasites. The results of the present investigation revealed that the prevalence of gastro-intestinal parasites in buffaloes is very common and quite severe. It is imperative that integrated strategies and measures be taken to control gastro-intestinal parasitic infections in buffaloes in kurigram district and elsewhere in Bangladesh