In the Himalayan area the leach is by far the most common external parasite of buffalo and people. Chickens are the most practical method of control. Birds will wait at the trail side for buffalo to return from pasture and will then, with great excitement, pick leeches off the buffalo's legs, backs and ears. Leaches have been suspected of transferring the FMD virus. In Egypt, disease was observed at the end of the clover grazing period and characterized by irratitive bronchitis associated with the adult worms.
Young calves are more susceptible and often deaths can result.
Lack of cleanliness, environmental stress and climatic conditions all encourage the spread of these parasites. The cysts are present in the muscles and in various organs. Infections in dogs have been identified through observation of oocysts in their feces after feeding infected diaphragm muscle of buffaloes. These are a blood flukes of the Schistosoma sp. They can cause enteritis in young buffalo calves below 2 years of age.