ABATTOIR SURVEY OF SCHISTOSOMA SPINDALE INFECTION IN THRISSUR

Abstract

Mesenteric worm count technique was employed to study the prevalence of intestinal schistosomosis among cattle and buffaloes slaughtered in Thrissur. Of the forty eight mesentery samples processed, 45.4 percent animals carried Schistosoma spindale infections with a significant proportion harbouring moderate infections. Long term chronic infections cause significant production loss to the herd. Prevalence of the disease was very high when compared to the existing reports based on faecal egg detection techniques. The study emphasises the need for developing alternate field level diagnostic tests for schistosomosis.

Keywords

• schistosoma spindale
• mesenteric worm count
• thrissur