Effect of deworming on milk production in dairy cattle and buffaloes infected with gastrointestinal parasites in the Kavrepalanchowk district of central Nepal

Upendra Thapa Shrestha^1,2,3, Nabaraj Adhikari^1,3, Samarpan Kafle³, Nabaraj Shrestha⁴, Megha Raj Banjara¹, Katie Steneroden⁵, Richard Bowen⁵, Komal Raj Rijal¹‍, Bipin Adhikari⁶, Prakash Ghimire¹

¹Central Department of Microbiology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Nepal

²Research Laboratory for Biotechnology and Biochemistry, Sanepa, Lalitpur, Nepal

³Department of Microbiology, Kantipur College of Medical Science, Sitapaila, Nepal

⁴Regional Directorates of Livestock Services, Birendranagar, Nepal

⁵Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

⁶Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol

University, Bangkok, Thailand

ABSTRACT

Background: In Nepal, knowledge of proper handling, management and causes of cattle diseases is still limited. The main objective of this study was to explore the impact of deworming on milk production and its effect on milk qualities. 

Methods: A total of 200 faecal samples (100 buffaloes and 100 cows) were collected and analysed for parasitic burden. Half of the infected cattle (buffaloes, Bos bubalis; cow native, B. indicus; European, B. taurus) were then dewormed with Levamisole Hydrochloride-Oxyclozanide bolus, and the remaining 50 per cent were left untreated. The milk yield from both infected and dewormed cattle was recorded for 30 days and the qualities of milk were analysed.

Results: The prevalence of parasitic infection was found to be 22.0 per cent. Fasciola hepatica was the predominant parasite (81.8 per cent), followed by Toxocara vitulorum (34.1 per cent), Strongyloides papillosus (6.8 per cent) and Bunostomum phlebotomum (4.5 per cent). The average

milk yield (litre/day/cow) significantly increased, which was 1.22 litres per day for treated cows and 1.06 litres for treated buffaloes. The intervention effect of deworming among cows was 0.79 (14.06 per cent increment) and for buffaloes was 0.42 (8.32 per cent increment). After deworming the infected cattle, the protein percentage was significantly improved in cows (P=0.035), whereas the lactose percentage and solid percentage had increased significantly in buffaloes (P=0.002 and P=0.028). 

Conclusion: Antiparasitic treatment in cattle had positive effects on milk qualities such as solid non-fat, lactose, solid percentage and total protein percentage.

Citation: Thapa Shrestha U, Adhikari N, Kafle S, et al. Effect of deworming on milk production in dairy cattle and buffaloes infected with gastrointestinal parasites in the Kavrepalanchowk district of central Nepal. Veterinary Record Open 2020;7:e000380. doi:10.1136/ vetreco-2019-000380

Received 13 November 2019 Accepted 27 November 2019

Thapa Shrestha U, et al. Vet Rec Open 2020;7:e000380. doi:10.1136/vetreco-2019-000380

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PARASITIC INFECTIONS IN PIG POPULATION FROM DIFFERENT CLIMATIC ECOZONES OF NEPAL AND ITS IMPACT ON PRODUCTIVITY AND HUMAN HEALTH

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PARASITIC INFECTIONS IN PIG POPULATION FROM DIFFERENT CLIMATIC ECOZONES OF NEPAL AND ITS IMPACT ON PRODUCTIVITY AND HUMAN HEALTH

(Selected for USAID Grant)

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Mr. Upendra Thapa Shrestha, M.Sc. Microbiology (Environment and Public Health Microbiology)

·         Faculty, Kantipur College of Medical Science (KCMS), affiliated to Tribhuvan University, Sitapaila, Kathmandu.

·         Research Assistant (Deputy Director), Research Laboratory for Biotechnology and Biochemistry; RLABB, (Contact address: Email:upendrats@gmail.com; Mobile: 9841431476)

CO-INVESTIGATORS

1.      Mr. Nabaraj Adhikari, M.Sc. Microbiology (Medical)

·         Coordinator, Kantipur College of Medical Science (KCMS) affiliated to Tribhuvan University, Sitapaila, Kathmandu

2.      Mr. Jivan Shakya, M.Sc. Microbiology (Medical)

·         Research Assistant, Centre for Molecular Dynamics-Nepal (CMDN)

ABSTRACT

Pig production in Nepal is one of the rapidly growing livestock enterprises both in tropical and sub-tropical regions, contributing the second major source of meat. The research will therefore focus on the prevalence of parasites in pig at two different climatic ecozones and also study its impacts on productivity and human health. Regarding research design, subtropical (Kathmandu valley) and tropical (Nawalparasi and Biratnagar) regions will be selected as two different sampling sites and parasites that affect both pig and farmers will be studied. One hundred and fifty stool samples and 150 blood samples of pigs will be collected from each sampling site. Simultaneously, 50 stool samples from each region will be collected from pig farmers of same study group. All climatic conditions including temperature, humidity, wind velocity etc will be recorded throughout the research period with the help of meteorologist. All stool samples will be preserved in formalin and transported to KCMS for further study. The pig stool samples will be observed for intestinal parasites (Giardia duodenalis, Ascaris suum, Trichuris suis, Balatidium coli and Strongyloides spp.). The blood samples will be processed to harvest the serum and will be transported to KCMS to detect antibodies against Taenia solium and Toxoplasma gondii by serodiagnosis method. The parasitic infections will be studied among the pig farmers of same study group. The prevalence of parasites will be determined in both pig population and farmers. The data will be statistically analyzed using chi square test. Finally, the study will describe the interrelationship between climate change, its effects on livestock production and human health.