The present study was carried out to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthiasis in ruminants in an irrigated area of lower Punjab (Pakistan). For this purpose, 100 faecal samples were collected from sheep, goats, cattle and buffaloes. Parasitological procedures including direct and indirect methods (sedimentation and floatation) and coproculture were used for the identification of helminths. The overall prevalence of helminthiasis was 51% in cattle, 47% in buffaloes, 62% in sheep and 52% in goats, with nematodes being the most common helminths. The prevalence of helminths was higher in young animals compared with adults in cattle (P < 0.0001), buffaloes (P < 0.0001), sheep (P < 0.059) and goats (P = 0.010). The prevalence of different species of helminths also varied in different age groups, with Toxocara vitulorum being higher in calves than adults both in cattle (P = 0.017) and buffaloes (P < 0.0001). Sex-wise prevalence of helminths was higher in males than females for buffaloes (P < 0.0001) and sheep (P = 0.014) in contrast to cattle and goats.

Point prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthiasis in ruminants in southern Punjab, Pakistan.

Epidemiology of gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep managed under traditional husbandry system in Kashmir valley.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anticoccidial effect of different concentrations of the herbal complex of 4 plants (leaves of Azadirachta indica and Nicotiana tabacum, flowers of Calotropis procera and seeds of Trachyspermum ammi) in broiler chickens in comparison with amprolium anticoccidial. Three concentrations (2 g, 4 g and 6 g) of herbal complex were given to the experimental groups once a day and amprolium (at the dose rate of 125 ppm) was given orally in drinking water from the 14th to the 21st days of age. One group was kept as infected, non-medicated control and one as non-infected, non-medicated control. All groups were inoculated orally with 75,000 sporulated oocysts on the 14th day of age except the non-infected, non-medicated control. Among herbal complex medicated groups, the maximum anticoccidial effect was seen in the group medicated with 6 g herbal complex followed by 4 g and 2 g herbal complex medicated groups. Treatment with 6 g of the herbal complex significantly reduced the negative performance and pathogenic effects associated with Eimeria tenella challenge at a level that was comparable with amprolium when using a largely susceptible recent field isolate. In summary, concentration-dependent anticoccidial activity of the studied herbal complex suggests its use as an alternative anticoccidial agent to chemotherapeutic drugs for Eimeria tenella control.

https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S003118201100182X

Anticoccidial activity of herbal complex in broiler chickens challenged with Eimeria tenella.

Parallels between zootherapeutic practices in ethnoveterinary and human complementary medicine in northeastern Brazil

In the present study, the in vogue ethnoveterinary practices in the Mansehra District of Pakistan were documented. Results revealed that 35 plant species representing 25 families were used in the area to treat the ailing animals. Most frequently used plants were from the families Apiaceae, Brassicaceae, Compositae, Pinaceae, Poaceae and Verbenaceae families. Other commonly used ingredients of ethnoveterinary prescriptions were; used engine oil, butter, mineral salt, lasi, kafor, yogurt, milk and buffalo’s urine. The most frequent ethnoveterinary practices were recorded for the treatment of gastrointestinal helminthiasis, tick and lice infestation, myiasis, mange and pneumonia. © 2010 Friends Science Publishers

Documentation of ethnoveterinary practices used for treatment of different ailments in a selected hilly area of Pakistan.

Livestock raisers and healers everywhere have traditional ways of classifying, diagnosing, preventing and treating common animal diseases. Many of these "ethnoveterinary" practices offer viable alternatives or complement to conventional, westernstyle veterinary medicine - especially where the latter is unavailable or inappropriate. The use of medicinal plants constitutes major part of ethnoveterinary medicine (EVM). The climatic conditions and geographic location of Pakistan provides conducive conditions for the growth and propagation of widely diverse species of medicinal plants. The inventory of flora of Pakistan indicates richness of this part of the world in medicinal plants in mountainous as well as plain regions. These plants are used both in animal and human healthcare. In contrast to the other countries, efforts have not been made to compile the databases of medicinal plants used in veterinary medicine. This paper overviews the prospects of medicinal plants used in EVM as a tool for poverty reduction through increasing productivity of small ruminants by using locally available economical remedies. Use of medicinal plants as an anthelmintic (de-wormer) has been given as an example. The limitations and strengths of EVM have been discussed.

Review Possible Role of Ethnoveterinary Medicine in Poverty Reduction in Pakistan: Use of Botanical Anthelmintics as an Example

Some epidemiological aspects of Trichostrongylid nematodes infecting gastrointestinal tract of sheep were studied in a part of agro–ecological zone of Pakistan. Six different species of Trichostrongylid nematodes viz., Haemonchus (H.) contortus, Trichostrongylus (T.) axei, T. colubriformis, Ostertagia (O.) trifurcata, O. circumcincta and Cooperia (C.) curticei were identified from 960 gastrointestinal tracts of sheep slaughtered at local abattoir of Faisalabad. Haemonchus contortus was the highest in prevalence (61.5%) followed by Trichostrongylus species (46.1%), Ostertagia species (33.0%) and C. curticei (18.5%). A majority (94.6%) of the infected sheep harbored more than one species of nematode parasites, having minimum two and maximum three Trichostrongylid nematode species in each host. The highest prevalence was recorded in the months of July, August and September. A trend of higher prevalence was recorded in young animals and in females. An association of prevalence, worm burden, arrested larvae, availability of nematode larvae on pasture and periparturient period was observed. The results warranted development of a strategic worm control program in the area of study, which at present is not in practice anywhere in Pakistan.

Akhtar

Papers

Review Possible Role of Ethnoveterinary Medicine in Poverty Reduction in Pakistan: Use of Botanical Anthelmintics as an Example

Epidemiology of Trichostrongylid Nematode Infections in Sheep Under Traditional Husbandry System in Pakistan