A study on prevalence and associated risk factors of Toxocara vitulorum in buffalo calves in Lahore, Pakistan
Muhammad Qasim Sharif, Muhammad Avais, Syed Saleem Ahmad, Aijaz Ali Channa
Date : 2017-02-01 Volume : 9

Present study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of Toxocariasis in buffalo calves in outskirts of Lahore. For this 5g fecal samples from 369 buffalo calves were collected directly from the rectum to avoid the soil contamination. For this purpose, buffalo calves between 1 to 20 weeks of age were selected. Data regarding each calve and possible associated risk factor i.e. species, sex, breed, age, physical condition, weaning time, fecal score, feeding, housing and management etc. was recorded. The fecal samples were analyzed by direct smear method. Positive samples for Toxocara vitulorum were further subjected to McMaster Technique for egg per gram (EPG) count. Out of total 369 buffalo calves, 87 (23.58%). buffalo calves were found to excrete T. vitulorum eggs in their feces. While 212 (76.42 %) buffalo calves were found normal with no fecal egg excretion. 23 calves (26.44 %) with age of 1-4 weeks, 37 calves (42.53 %) with age of 5-10 weeks and 27 calves (31.03 %) were found positive. Percentage of male and female infected calves were 25.79 % and 21.23 %, respectively. Number of non-infected calves in healthy and sick animals were 236 (80.55 %) and 54 (71.05 %), respectively. While infected calves in healthy and sick animals were 57 (19.45 %) and 22 (28.95 %). Number of sick and healthy mothers of calves were 54 and 315, respectively. 13 calves (24.07%) were infected with T. vitulorum infestation whom mother was sick, while 67 calves (21.27%) were infected with T. vitulorum whom mother was healthy. 1482434538.php