Prevalence Of Protozoan Parasites In Ruminants In District Narowal, Pakistan

Abstract

The economy of Pakistan is heavily dependent on livestock. It provides year-round work, generates cash revenue, increases crop productivity, produces food, and use for transportation. Animals in Pakistan experience severe losses as a result of protozoan infections, including considerable fluctuates in milk production, miscarriages, preterm deliveries, and occasionally even death. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the frequency of protozoan parasites in ruminant faeces in distinct areas of District Narowal, Pakistan, among parasitic protozoans, the prevalence of B. coli in plot and coccidia in Noorkot was the most abundant. A total of 1659 samples was collected and processed by sedimentation technique in District Diagnostic Livestock Lab, Narowal. Overall, 45.33% (752/1659) of animals were infected; the incidence rate of coccidia and B. coli was highest in June and November. The prevalence of coccidia in buffaloes, cattle, goats and sheep was found at 46.5%, 41.2%, 28% and 36.6% respectively. While B. coli was found within only buffaloes and cattle (0.09% and 0.59%, respectively). coccidia was highly observed in young ones of buffaloes and cattle. In young ruminants, coccidia was observed in goats (15.38%), buck (41.67%), sheep (50%) and ram (27.78%), whilst, B. coli was highly observed in adult buffaloes (0.87%) and cattle (0.71%). It is essential to understand the prevalence of these protozoan parasites in District Narowal in order to develop effective control methods against animal diseases.

Key Words: Protozoan Parasites, Coccidia, Balantidium. coli, miscarriage, premature delivery, Narowal.