Prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths in calves in Western Serbia

Abstract

This study was undertaken to estimate the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths in calves in western Serbia. Throughout 2011 faecal samples were collected from 600 calves aged up to 180 days, samples were examined with the flotation method and a modified McMaster technique. The parasitizing helminth species were identified and the level of infection compared between different age groups. As many as 64.17% animals were found to be infected. The following parasite species were diagnosed: Moniezia spp. (3.17%), Toxocara vitulorum (35.00%), Strongyloides papillosus (34.50%), gastrointestinal strongyles (4.50%) and Trichuris discolor (2.17%). The majority of calves were infected with two, fewer with three or one helminth species, and the smollest number of calves harboured four parasite species. The prevalence of established helminth infections varied depending on the calves' age.

Studija je sprovedena sa ciljem da se utvrdi prevalencija gastrointestinalnih helminata kod teladi u zapadnom delu Srbije. Tokom 2011. godine prikupljeni su uzorci fecesa ukupno 600 teladi starosti do 180 dana. Uzorci su pregledani metodom flotacije i modifikovanom metodom po McMasteru. Determinisane su vrste helminata i određena je prevalencija infekcije kod teladi različite starosti. Rezultati ispitivanja pokazali su da je infekcija helmintima bila prisutna kod 64,17% pregledanih životinja. Ustanovljene su sledeće vrste helminata: Moniezia spp. (3,17%), Toxocara vitulorum (35,00%), Strongyloides papillosus (34,50%), želudačnocrevne strongilide (4,50%) i Trichuris discolor (2,17%). Većina teladi istovremeno je bila inficirana dvema vrstama, zatim sa tri i jednom vrstom helminta, dok je kod samo nekoliko životinja bilo ustanovljeno prisustvo četiri vrste ili grupe helminata. Prevalencija infekcija helmintima razlikovala se kod teladi različite starosti.