Exploratory Animal and Medical Research (Dec 2023)

SEASONAL INFLUENCE ON PREVALENCE OF HAEMOPROTOZOAN PARASITIC DISEASES IN CROSSBRED CATTLE UNDER TERAI-DOOARS REGION OF WEST BENGAL, INDIA

  • Nonigopal Shit ,
  • Dilip Kumar Hajra,
  • Mrityunjay Mandal ,
  • Rahul Deb Mukherjee

DOI
https://doi.org/10.52635/eamr/13.2.191-197
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 2
pp. 191 – 197

Abstract

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Diseases caused by hemoprotozoans in cross-bred cattle result in a large financial loss. It is thought that persistent climate change raises the risk of hemoprotozoan infection. Records regarding the frequency of these illnesses in West Bengal's Terai Region are scarce. To implement control measures, such data is required. Because of this, a study was conducted in the Terai Region of West Bengal to find out how common hemoprotozoan infection is in cross-bred cattle. By finding parasites in blood smears taken from animals exhibiting certain clinical symptoms typical of hemoprotozoan infection, the illness was identified. Over five years, 1308 blood samples from cattle that were suspected of being cross-bred were taken from various locations in the Terai-Dooars region. The blood smear was stained by Giemsa's stain and scrutinized under oil immersion microscopy. Blood biochemical parameters were analyzed to compare the impact in affected and healthy animals. Theileria sp., Anaplasma sp., and Babesia sp. were found in the screened samples. Seasonality has a major impact on the frequency of hemoparasitic infections. The wet season accounted for the majority of the occurrences (63.94%), with summer coming in second (52.52%) and winter third (31.76%). All told, hemoparasites were found in 51.98% of the suspected cases. Compared to Babesia sp. (13.68%) and Anaplasma sp. (31.03%), the prevalence of Theileria sp. (46.02%) was higher. The hematological observation showed statistically a significant (p<0.05) reduction of Hb (g/dl), PCV (%), and TEC (million/cm) in positive groups of crossbred cattle compared to the healthy animals. The result indicated that half of the suspected cases in the Terai zone of West Bengal would carry active haemo-parasites. There is a seasonal and species variation in the occurrence of haemo-parotozoan infection which can be capitalized for strategic control measures.

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