Medical Parasitology and Zoology

Biography

Biography: Asif Iqbal

Abstract

Based on stratified random sampling, 4608 animals were screened during November, 2010-October, 2012 in central Punjab, Pakistan. The overall prevalence of ticks was recorded 52.14% (2403/4608) in host population of the study area. Out of infested host species, the abundance was found significantly higher in cattle as compared with buffaloes. Among the identified species of the ticks Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum was found significantly predominant followed in order by Rhipicephalus microplus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus. The overall theileria infection in the acini of tick salivary glands was recorded 20.85% (1126/5400). Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum (62.56%; 1126/1800) was the only theileria infected tick specie in the study area. The salivary glands of Rhiphicephalus microplus and Rhiphicephalus sanguinus were not found having any infection of theilerial sporozoites. Only type-III acini were found infected with the parasites. The infection was determined higher with Methyl Green Pyronine (MPG) stain in comparison with Geimsa stain. Between the sexes of tick, the level of infection was recorded significantly higher in female acini as compared with male acini. The infection was recorded significantly higher in ticks collected from riverine area as compared with the ticks collected from non-riverine areas. Similarly, infesting ticks were found having higher infection of theilerial sporozoites in their salivary glands as compared with questing ticks. Among the on-hosts, ticks infesting cattle were found with more burden of theilerial sporozoites than ticks collected from the body of buffaloes. Month wise prevalence of ticks showed that their abundance is higher in the month of June, July and August and lower during the months of December, January. The overall prevalence of bovine tropical theileriosis was found 49.87% (2298/4608) in cattle and buffaloes of the study area. Theileria annulata was the only prevalent specie of theileria in all positive animals. Overall and specie-wise prevalence of theileriosis in host population of the study depicted higher prevalence of bovine theileriosis in cattle as compared to buffalo population but the difference was not found statistically significant. Friesian breed of cattle was found with significantly highest prevalence of theileriosis followed in order by Jersey, Cross-bred and Sahiwal in perspective of the breed based prevalence. Theileriosis was statistically more prevalent in the Kundi breed of buffalo as compared to Nili Ravi. In perspective of the sex groups, female cattle and buffaloes were found statistically more prone to bovine tropical theileriosis the than that of male cattle and male buffaloes, respectively. With respect to age groups, prevalence of theileriosis has been found significantly higher in young animals in comparison with the adult. In specie-wise prevalence, although prevalence of theileriosis was found higher in cattle in comparison with the buffalo population but the difference was statistically insignificant. As far as feeding system is concerned, prevalence of theileriosis was found significantly higher in the grazing animals than that of stall fed animals. In animal keeping system, theileriosis was found more closely associated with the tethered animals as compared to the open animals. In perspective of housing system, close housed animal population was found having significantly highest prevalence of theileriosis followed in order by semi-closed and open housed. Disease prevalence was found significantly associated with the poor hygienic measures than that of the good hygienic measures in animals of the study area whereas buffalo population of the study area with the good hygienic measures were found significantly resistant to bovine theileriosis in comparison with the poor hygiene animals. With respect to farming system, mixed farming practices were found significantly associated with the prevalence of theileriosis as compared to separate farming. Association of the theileriosis has been found significantly the highest in the animals kept on un-cemented floor pattern followed in order by animals grown in partially-cemented and cemented floor patterns. Similarly, the highest disease prevalence was found in animals with pond watering system followed in order by animals with canal and tape watering system. Within the strata, the highest prevalence was recorded in Kamalia in order followed by Gojra and T.T. Singh. As far as association of macroclimate with the disease prevalence is concerned, theileriosis in rainy season has been found significantly the highest prevalence followed in decreasing order by summer, autumn, spring and winter, whereas, month wise prevalence showed highest level of infection in the month of August during the study period. The observed clinical signs were; rise of body temperature up to 40.5°C, the enlargement of lymph nodes specially the superficial pre-scapular lymph node, increase in respiratory rate, increase in heart rate, nasal and ocular discharge some time associated with corneal opacity, soft yellowish diarrhoea, pale-yellowish mucus membranes, straw yellowish urine and the same time showed emaciate, recombenses and subcutaneous accumulation to fluid during this study. Blood analysis showed that both cattle and buffaloes were found infected with bovine tropical theileriosis. Hematological analysis showed statistically a significant decrease in mean haemoglobin concentration (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MHCH), red blood cells count (RBCC), white blood cells count (WBCC), neutrophils (P<0.001) and serum total bilirubin and active serum enzyme (ALT & AST) while a significant increase was recorded in lymphocyte count (P<0.001), corpuscular volume (MCV), serum total protein and albumin. Participatory epidemiological investigation regarding treatment of Theileriosis highlighted the story that the farmers of the study area were having highest trend towards the quacks for consultancy in order followed by veterinarians and self-reliance. Their therapeutic concerns were more deviated towards ethnoveterinary medicine in comparison with allopathic one. Widely use of their self-made plant extracts (Decoctions) was considered as best drug of choice in comparison with the available chemicals. Among the various lavishely used anti-tick and anti-theilerial compounds, the combined effect of ivermectin and buparwaquone was found the best in order followed by Amitraz + Oxytetracyclene and Cypermethrine + Calotropis procera. The total economic loss of 3.23 million rupees has been calculated in the present study in the district T.T. Singh due to theileriosis.