Prevalence of trematodes and host risk factors associated with dairy cattle in Colombia

Abstract

This study was conducted to establish the prevalence and identify the risk factors associated with trematode infections in dairy cattle in the Boyacá Highlands, Colombia. Fecal samples collected from 300 randomly selected cattle were examined using a simple sedimentation technique for differential trematodes egg count. The animals were found shedding eggs of three groups of trematodes, namely Fasciola hepática, Paramphistomum cervi and Cotylophoron cotylophorum. The specific prevalence of this trematodes were 11.6%, 9.3%, and 3.7% respectively. A substantial overlap was observed in the appearance of F. hepatica y P. cervi. The prevalence of the three trematodes identified in this study was significantly associated (p<0.05) with body condition and breed, while the prevalence of Fasciola hepatica and Paramphistomum cervi, was associated with age. The prevalence of the three main trematodes of importance for animal health with a high rate of mixed infection along with a poor body condition, suggests a substantial economic loss incurred due to reduced productivity of livestock in the study area.