EPIDEMIOLOGY OF BLOOD PROTOZOA OF BUFFALOES OF DISTRICT TOBA TEK SINGH, PAKISTAN

Published: November 18, 2011

By: Tauseef-ur-Rehman, Muhammad Nisar Khana, Muhammad Sohail Sajida, Zafar Iqbala, Wasim Babar

Summary

A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence of blood protozoa and associated risk factors in buffaloes of district Toba Tek Singh from April, 2009 to March, 2010. Of the total 481 blood samples examined for the presence of blood protoza, 60 (12.47%) were found infected with Babesia and 40 (8.32%) were positive for theileria. Peak prevalence was observed during the month of July while zero prevalence was recorded during months of December and January. Calves had significantly higher prevalence than adults in case of Theileria while reverse was in case of babesiosis. Higher prevalence of Babesia was observed in females while sex was found non-significantly associated with Theileria occurance (P=0.1646). Breeds of buffalo were not found associated (P>0.05) with the risk of Babesia (P=0.3258) and Theileria (P=0.3288) infection. Among management and husbandry practices; housing system, feeding system, watering system, floor type and herd size were the factors significantly associated (P<0.05) with Babesia and Theileria infection. Babesiosis and Theileriosis were more prevalent in close housing system, ground feeding system, noncemented floor type, pond watered animals and larger herds (P<0.05) as compared to open housing system, trough feeding system, partially cemented floor type, tap watered animals and smaller herds respectively. Body condition of animals were not found risk factors (P>0.05) influencing prevalence of Eimeria. Keywords: Epidemiology, protozoa, buffalo, Pakistan

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