STUDIES ON PARAMPHISTOMIASIS IN RUMINANTS

Abstract

This study was carried out through one year from January 2008 to December 2008 at Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate to determine some epidemiological and clinical features concerning paramphistomiasis in ruminants. Moreover, different treatment trails were conducted to evaluate their efficacy. Out of 944 examined animals (316 cattle 218 buffalos and 410 sheep), eggs of paramphistomes were detected in 260 (27.43%), the prevalence rate was 38.92%, 41.74% and 10.98% among cattle, buffaloes and sheep respectively. Geographically, the disease was distributed variably among different areas of Kafr El-Sheikh. Concerning the sex predisposition, the prevalence of the disease was significantly higher (p<0.05) in females (41.61%) than males (27.45%). The prevalence of paramphistomiasis was differed significantly among different age groups and different seasons. Clinically, mild infected animals were apparently normal; the moderate and severely infected animals developed diarrhea, emaciation, submandibular edema, rough coat and decreased milk yield in variable degrees correlated to the faecal egg count. Paramphistomes species which detected were Paramphistomum cervi, Carmyerius gregarious, and Cotylophoron cotylophorum. Histopathological changes in infected animals were in the form of mononuclear cell infiltration in the sub mucosa of the ruminal papillae, necrosis and degeneration in the gland of the duodenum. It was observed that oxyclozamide was 97.9% effective against mature paramphistomes whereas niclosamide failed to cure completely any of the infected animals. Studies On Paramphistomiasis In Ruminants.