Vol. 10, Special Issue 12 (2021)

Author(s):
Jitendra Kumar Parida, Bijayendranath Mohanty, MitraRanjan Panda, Sangram Biswal, Bijay Kumar Patra, Dillip Kumar Karna, Manaswini Dehuri and Ananta Hembram

Abstract:
Non-descript (n=96) and crossbred Jersey (n=107) cows from different farms & villages of Khurda, Cuttack and Puri district of Odisha were included in the studies. Sampling from the same animal was done repeatedly for different stage of pregnancy and lactation. A total of 956 faecal samples (461 samples from nondescript cows and 495 from crossbred cows) were collected at different stage of lactation and pregnancy and examined following standard parasitological techniques. Faecal samples found positive for strongyle eggs were subjected to coproculture to identify the various strongyle larvae. Out of 956 faecal samples 332 (34.72%) were found positive for gastrointestinal nematode infection. Out of 114 non-pregnant dry stall fed cows examined, 27 (23.68%) were found positive with a mean EPG (Egg per gram) of 60.08±11.14, whereas out of 108 non-pregnant dry semi ranging cows, 31 (28.70%) samples were found positive with 63.56±14.04 mean EPG. The overall prevalence of gastro-intestinal nematodoses in dry non-pregnant cows was 26.12%. Sixty (50%) out of 120 cows under dry but pregnant category were found positive for gastrointestinal nematodoses. Higher prevalence rate (50.91%) was observed among pregnant free ranging cows than pregnant stall fed cows (49.23%).The intensity of infection in terms of EPG was lowest among both categories (stall fed and semi-ranging) of cows at 5^th month and highest during 9^th month of pregnancy with mean EPG ranging from 94.21 ±14.76 to 222.22 ± 28.42 in stall fed and semi ranging pregnant cows showing a gradual increase in intensity of infection from 5^th month to 9 months of pregnancy. The intensity of infection in dry pregnant cows was significantly higher (p<0.01) than non-pregnant dry cows. Examination of 168 stall fed & 156 Semi ranging lactating cows revealed higher percentage of infection with gastrointestinal nematodes in semi ranging (37.18%) than stall fed cows (35.71%). Egg per gram (EPG) gradually decreased from 1^st month of lactation till 7^th month. The mean highest EPG in lactating cows (stall fed and semi ranging taken together) was 185.00 ± 27.32 during 1^st month of lactation and lowest (43.75 ± 15.19) was recorded in 7^th month of lactation. In comparison to non-pregnant dry cows, lactating cows showed significantly higher intensity of gastrointestinal nematode infection (p<0.01). Examination of 148 Stall fed & 142 Semi Ranging lactating Pregnant cows showed that 32.43% stall fed & 33.80% semi ranging cows were infected with gastrointestinal nematodes. Percentage of prevalence was highest in 3^rd Trimester (7-9months) in both stall fed and semi ranging cows followed by mid gestation (4-6month) and lowest in 1^st Trimester (0-3month). Morphometric and morphological studies revealed three types of nematode eggs which were strongylid, Strongyloides spp. and Trichuris spp. Coproculture of the faecal samples revealed 3^rdstage larvae of three nematode species namely Haemonchus spp., Strongyloides spp. and Trichostrongylus spp.