The prevalence and associated risk factors of Toxocara vitulorum infection in buffalo and cattle calves was studied in 3 provinces in central Cambodia. Fecal samples were collected from 517 calves between the age of 1-15 weeks and processed for nematode egg counts by a modified McMaster method. A total of 64 calves were found to excrete T. vitulorum eggs in their feces (12.4%; 95% exact CI: 9.7-15.5). The mean fecal egg count was 2,798 EPG (SD=16,351; range=0-224,400). A multivariable generalized linear mixed model showed higher odds of T. vitulorum infection for buffalo versus cattle, for animals aged 4-8 weeks versus younger and older ones, and for animals with strongyle infection. There was no association with fecal consistency. Farmers should be aware of the potential impact of T. vitulorum, and treat their calves at the age of 2-3 weeks with anthelmintics such as benzimidazoles or pyrantel.
Animals ; Buffaloes ; Cambodia/epidemiology ; Cattle ; Cattle Diseases/*epidemiology/*parasitology/physiopathology ; Prevalence ; Toxocara/isolation & purification/physiology ; Toxocariasis/epidemiology/*parasitology/physiopathology

Neospora caninum is a coccidian parasite of animals. It is a major pathogen for cattle and dogs and it occasionally causes clinical infections in horses, goats, sheep, and deer. Domestic dogs are the only known definitive hosts for N. caninum. It is one of the most efficiently transmitted parasite of cattle and up to 90% of cattle in some herds are infected. Transplacental transmission is considered the major route of transmission of N. caninum in cattle. Neospora caninum is a major cause of abortion in cattle in many countries. To elicit protective immunity against abortion in cows that already harbor a latent infection is a major problem. This paper reviews information on biology, diagnosis, epidemiology and control of neosporosis in animals.
Animals ; Buffaloes/parasitology ; Coccidiosis/diagnosis/epidemiology/transmission/*veterinary ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dogs ; Female ; Goats/parasitology ; Horses/parasitology ; Humans ; Neospora/*physiology ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence ; Sheep/parasitology

This study was conducted to investigate the life history, morphology, and maturation of larval stages and adult worms of Fasciola gigantica in experimental mice. Lymnaea auricularia rubiginosa was used as the intermediate host, and Oryza sativa was used for encystment of the metacercariae, while Mus musculus was used as the definitive host for maturation study. Fresh eggs from the gall bladder of water buffaloes fully developed into embryonated ones and hatched out at days 11-12 after incubation at about 29masculineC. Free-swimming miracidia rapidly penetrated into the snail host, and gradually developed into the next larval stages; sporocyst, redia, and daughter redia with cercariae. Fully-developed cercariae were separated from the redia and shed from the snails on day 39 post-infection (PI). Free-swimming cercariae were immediately allowed to adhere to rice plants, and capsules were constructed to protect metacercariae on rice plants. Juvenile worms were detected in intestines of mice at days 3 and 6 PI, but they were found in the bile duct from day 9 PI. Juvenile and adult flukes were recovered from 16 mice experimentally infected with metacercariae, with the average recovery rate of 35.8%. Sexually mature adult flukes were recovered from day 42 PI. It could be confirmed that experimentally encysted metacercariae could infect and develop to maturity in the experimental host. The present study reports for the first time the complete life history of F. gigantica by an experimental study in Thailand. The obtained information can be used as a guide for prevention, elimination, and treatment of F. gigantica at environment and in other hosts.
Acanthaceae/parasitology ; Animals ; Buffaloes/parasitology ; Fasciola/*anatomy & histology/*physiology ; Gallbladder/parasitology ; Larva/anatomy & histology/physiology ; *Life Cycle Stages ; Mice ; Microscopy ; Oryza sativa/parasitology ; Time Factors

This study was conducted to investigate the life history, morphology, and maturation of larval stages and adult worms of Fasciola gigantica in experimental mice. Lymnaea auricularia rubiginosa was used as the intermediate host, and Oryza sativa was used for encystment of the metacercariae, while Mus musculus was used as the definitive host for maturation study. Fresh eggs from the gall bladder of water buffaloes fully developed into embryonated ones and hatched out at days 11-12 after incubation at about 29masculineC. Free-swimming miracidia rapidly penetrated into the snail host, and gradually developed into the next larval stages; sporocyst, redia, and daughter redia with cercariae. Fully-developed cercariae were separated from the redia and shed from the snails on day 39 post-infection (PI). Free-swimming cercariae were immediately allowed to adhere to rice plants, and capsules were constructed to protect metacercariae on rice plants. Juvenile worms were detected in intestines of mice at days 3 and 6 PI, but they were found in the bile duct from day 9 PI. Juvenile and adult flukes were recovered from 16 mice experimentally infected with metacercariae, with the average recovery rate of 35.8%. Sexually mature adult flukes were recovered from day 42 PI. It could be confirmed that experimentally encysted metacercariae could infect and develop to maturity in the experimental host. The present study reports for the first time the complete life history of F. gigantica by an experimental study in Thailand. The obtained information can be used as a guide for prevention, elimination, and treatment of F. gigantica at environment and in other hosts.
Acanthaceae/parasitology ; Animals ; Buffaloes/parasitology ; Fasciola/*anatomy & histology/*physiology ; Gallbladder/parasitology ; Larva/anatomy & histology/physiology ; *Life Cycle Stages ; Mice ; Microscopy ; Oryza sativa/parasitology ; Time Factors

We report 2 cases of Thelazia rhodesii infection in the African buffaloes, Syncerus caffer, in Zambia. African buffalo calves were captured from the livestock and wildlife interface area of the Kafue basin in the dry season of August 2005 for the purpose to translocate to game ranches. At capture, calves (n=48) were examined for the presence of eye infections by gently manipulating the orbital membranes to check for eye-worms in the conjunctival sacs and corneal surfaces. Two (4.3%) were infected and the mean infection burden per infected eye was 5.3 worms (n=3). The mean length of the worms was 16.4 mm (95% CI; 14.7-18.2 mm) and the diameter 0.41 mm (95% CI; 0.38-0.45 mm). The surface cuticle was made of transverse striations which gave the worms a characteristic serrated appearance. Although the calves showed signs of kerato-conjunctivitis, the major pathological change observed was corneal opacity. The calves were kept in quarantine and were examined thrice at 30 days interval. At each interval, they were treated with 200 microg/kg ivermectin, and then translocated to game ranches. Given that the disease has been reported in cattle and Kafue lechwe (Kobus lechwe kafuensis) in the area, there is a need for a comprehensive study which aims at determining the disease dynamics and transmission patterns of thelaziasis between wildlife and livestock in the Kafue basin.
Animals ; Anthelmintics/therapeutic use ; Buffaloes/*parasitology ; Eye Diseases/drug therapy/parasitology/*veterinary ; Spirurida Infections/drug therapy/parasitology/*veterinary ; Thelazioidea/*isolation & purification/physiology ; Zambia

This study investigated the presence of cytokines interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukins (IL) -6 and -8 in serum of cattle and buffaloes infected with Fasciola gigantica from one to 16 weeks post-infection to determine their T cell response during infection. The concentration of these cytokines was determined by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). No IFN-gamma was detected in these animals while IL-6 was elevated from one to 16 weeks postinfection. Levels of IL-8 were also elevated in infected buffaloes from one to 16 weeks post-infection. A predominantly T helper (Th) 2 response which started early in the infection was apparently present in cattle and buffaloes in this study which was characterised by IL-6. IL-8 production could be another mechanism of immune response in buffaloes during infection with F. gigantica.
Animals ; Buffaloes/blood/immunology/*parasitology ; Cattle ; Cattle Diseases/*immunology/*parasitology ; Cytokines/*blood/immunology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/veterinary ; Fasciola/*immunology ; Fascioliasis/immunology/parasitology/*veterinary ; Interferon Type II/blood ; Interleukin-6/blood ; Interleukin-8/blood ; Random Allocation

OBJECTIVETo determine the presence of Babesia bovis (B. bovis) in large ruminants in southern Punjab and its effect on hematological and serum biochemical profile of host animals.

METHODSBlood samples were collected from 144 large ruminants, including 105 cattle and 39 buffaloes, from six districts in southern Punjab including Multan, Layyah, Muzaffar Garh, Bhakar, Bahawalnagar and Vehari. Data on the characteristics of animals and herds were collected through questionnaires. Different blood (hemoglobin, glucose) and serum (ALT, AST, LDH, cholesterol) parameters of calves and cattle were measured and compared between parasite positive and negative samples to demonstrate the effect of B. bovis on the blood and serological profile of infected animals.

RESULTS27 out of 144 animals, from 5 out of 6 sampling districts, produced the 541-bp fragment specific for B. bovis. Age of animals (P=0.02), presence of ticks on animals (P=0.04) and presence of ticks on dogs associated with herds (P=0.5) were among the major risk factors involved in the spread of bovine babesiosis in the study area. ALT concentrations were the only serum biochemical values that significantly varied between parasite positive and negative cattle.

CONCLUSIONS: This study has reported for the first time the presence of B. bovis in large ruminant and the results can lead to the prevention of babesiosis in the region to increase the livestock output.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Babesia bovis ; genetics ; Babesiosis ; blood ; epidemiology ; parasitology ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Buffaloes ; Cattle ; Cattle Diseases ; blood ; epidemiology ; parasitology ; Cholesterol ; blood ; India ; epidemiology ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; blood ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Protozoan ; blood ; RNA, Ribosomal ; blood ; Surveys and Questionnaires