Prevalence and species composition of major internal and external parasites of calves in selected dairy farms of Bahir Dar milk-shade

Abstract

This study was carried out from October 2013 to November 2014 in selected dairy farms of Bahir Dar milk-shade to estimate the prevalence and species composition of major internal and external parasites and to examine the associated risk factors in dairy calves. A total of 168 and 77 dairy calves less than 9 month old were used to study the prevalence of calf internal and external parasites, respectively. Type of internal and external parasites, degree of nematode infection (EPG) and packed cell volume (PCV) were determined by using standard parasitological and hematological procedures. The overall prevalence of internal and external parasites was 65.5% and 45%, respectively. The prevalence of Coccidia, Strongyle spp, Ascaris, Monezia, Paramphistomum, Trichuris, Schistosoma and Fasciola spp. was 25.6%, 20.8%, 17.1%, 14.3%, 6.0%, 3.0%, 1.8% and 0.6%, respectively. A significant difference (p<0.05) was observed in strongyle and coccidia infection across season and dairy production system. Major external parasites of calves were ticks (23.4%), flea (16.9%) and lice (7.8%). Boophilus decoloratus (17.1%), Amblyoma varigatum (2.6%) and Rhipicephalus evertsi-evertsi, (2.6%) were the prevailed tick species found in the study area. The prevalence of B. decoloratus was significantly (p<0.05) higher in peri-urban (26.8%) than urban (5.6%) dairy. Ctenocephalidae flea (18.4%) and two species of lice, L. vitulli (6.6%) and D. bovis (1.3%) were also recovered from dairy calves. In conclusion, the overall prevalence of calf internal and external parasites reported in the present study area was considerably high. This could affect the health and growth performance of dairy calves in the study ares. Therefore, as poorly managed calves are susceptible to most endo and ectoparasites, strategic deworming and acaricide application with subsequent implementation of improved calf management practices is warranted.

Keywords: Dairy calf; External parasites; Internal parasites; Prevalence; Species composition