230
Nature and Incidence of Helminth Infection in Cattle
SOME IMPORTANT CONCLUSIONS
Goats. In the Central Provinces and Berar,
goats are found to be very heavily infected with
Trematodes in Nagpur and the percentage of in-
fected animals is greatest in winter season from
December to February. Amphistome infection is
the highest in all seasons and in winter as many as
76 per cent of animals are infected with them. Coty-
lophoron cotylophorum and Gastrothylax crumenifer
are the commonest amphistomes. Fasciola hepatica
and species of Schistosoma are not very common
and the incidence of infection is also low. In Central
India, the only trematodes found are species of
Schistosoma and that too only in 16 per cent
animals. Amphistomes are conspicuous by their
absence.
In the. Central Provinces and Berar, species of
Aviteleina and Stilesia occur very commonly. In
Central India Stilesia vittata is very common but
the percentage of infected animals is only 24.
Hæmonchus contortus is found in the Central
Provinces and Berar in about 73 per cent of animals
in the rainy season but the percentage falls to 33
in summer and the average infection also falls down
from 75 to 31 per animal. Trichocephalus ovis also
occurs in a large number of animals but the infection
is not heavy. In Central India, Trichocephalus
ovis is more abundant occurring in as many as 81
per cent animals. Bunostomum trigonocephalum is
also more common than in the Central Provinces
and Berar.
Sheep. In the Central Provinces and Berar,
sheep are more, heavily infected at Raipur than at
other places. Cotylophoron cotylophorum is the most
common parasite occurring in Central Provinces in
51 per cent of sheep with an average load of 984
per infected animal. Species of Schistosoma and
Fasciola hepatica are more abundant in sheep than
in goats. But it is interesting to note that Cotylo-
phoron cotylophorum is more abundant in the rainy
season than in winter. In Central India, the only two
trematodes infecting sheep are Cotylophoron
ovatum and species of Schistosoma; but the
infection is low; only 16 per cent of animals are
infected.
Commonly the same cestodes which infect goat
also infect the sheep. In the Central Provinces and
Berar, Stilesia globipunctata occurs in about 17
per cent of the animals showing heavy infection.
In Central India, the cestode infection is slightly
more than the trematode infection.
Trichocephalus ovis and Hæmonchus contortus are
the commonest Nematodes in sheep in Central Pro-
vinces. Bunoslomum trigonocephalum and Gaigeria
pachyscelis occur in 32 per cent and 16 per cent
animals respectively but the degree of infection is
low. Gongylonema pulchrum and G. verrucosum
occur less frequently in sheep than in goats. In
Central India, nematode infection is low and less
varied. The only common nematodes are Hæmon-
chus Contortus and Trichocephalus ovis.
Cattle. In Central Provinces and Berar, Raipur
is the most heavily infected area ; as many as 75
per cent of cattle are infected with Cotylophoron
cotylophorum, and at Nagpur 72 per cent are infected
with this parasite. Gastrothylax crumenifer is found
in 88 per cent cattle at Raipur and in 54 per cent
cattle at Nagpur. The infection by Paramphisto-
mum cervi is also heavy in Raipur but not so heavy
as in Nagpur. The cattle in Central India are less
heavily infected. Only 30 per cent of them har-
boured Paramphistomum Cervi, cotylophoron cotylo-
phorum and Fasciola hepatica.
The cestode infection in cattle in the Central
Provinces and Berar is confined only to Moniezia
expansa and M. benedini and cysts of Echinococcus
granulosus. The cattle at Mhow are also infected
by these cysts.
The nematode infection in cattle in the Central
Provinces and Berar is fairly varied but the inci-
dence is low except for Bunostomum trigonocephalum
which occurs in 43 per cent of animals. In Central
India Mecistocirrus digitatus is found in 50 per cent
cattle and Gongylonema pulchrum and Œsophagos-
tomum venulosum in about 30 per cent.
FUTURE WORK
As a result of this survey, the author thinks that
work on the life-history and on preventive measures
of the following parasites is very necessary at places
noted against them—
Cotylophoron cotylophorum—The Central Pro-
vinces and Berar : cattle, sheep and goats.
Gastrothylax crumenifer—The Central Provinces
and Berar : cattle, sheep and goats.
Schistosoma—The Central Provinces and Berar:
cattle.
Mecistocirrus digitatus—Mhow : cattle
Stilesia globipunctata, Avitellina centripunctata-
The Central Provinces and Berar : goat, sheep.
Oesophagostomum venulosum—Mhow : cattle.
Oe-radiatum—The Central Provinces : goat,
sheep.
Bunostomum trigonocephalum, Gaigaria pochy-
scelis—The Central Provinces : goat, sheep.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
In conclusion, the author wishes to record his
gratitude to Mr H. B. Shahi, Director of Veterinary
Services, Central Provinces and Berar, for valuable
cooperation and to his research assistant, Dr B. S.
Chauhan, for valuable assistance. Without these, this
survey would not have been possible.