Parasitic helminths of domesticated and wild ruminants in Cholistan desert of Pakistan.

Abstract

The present study was carried out to assess the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths infections among wild and domestic ruminants in Cholistan desert of Pakistan. For this purpose, 1010 faecal samples of different species of ruminants including cattle (n=300), sheep (n=250), goat (n=100), camel (n=200), chinkara (n=150) and blackbuck (n=10) were examined using standard parasitological procedures. The highest prevalence was recorded in cattle (44.7%) followed by sheep (43.6%), goats (39%), camels (37%), chinkara (26.7%) and black bucks (20%). Maximum number of the helminth species were recorded in sheep (n=14) followed by camels (n=13), cattle (n=09), goats (n=08), chinkara (n=07) and black bucks (n=02). Nematodes were the predominantly occurring (n=18) helminths followed by trematodes (n=6) and cestodes (n=3). Haemonchus and Trichostrongylus were the most frequently recorded genera followed by Chabertia, Oesophagostomum, Schistosoma, Moniezia, Cooperia, Bunnostomum, Toxocara, Ostertagia, Nematodirus, Trichuris, Strongyliodes, Avitellina, Fasciola, Thelazia (n=02), Syngamus, Gaigeria, Skrjabinema, Cotylophoron, Metastrongylus and Gongylonema as mixed or single species infections in different species of animals. It was concluded that wild and domesticated ruminants of the Cholistan desert of Pakistan suffer with heavy infections of a variety of helminths including those of high economic significance. Therefore, high prevalence of helminthes warrants immediate attention of the stakeholders for devising an effective worm control program in the Cholistan desert. © 2012 Friends Science Publishers