Species diversity and acquisition of gastrointestinal parasites in calves aged 0-13 months in periurban livestock production in Mali.
Post-mortem inspections on 51 calves were conducted to investigate acquisition and spectrum of gastrointestinal parasites in young calves in periurban livestock production in Mali. Generalized linear models with herd as a repeated effect were used to test the influence of management, age and season of birth on parasite numbers and diversity. Parasite number and burden increased with age. In the age class 4-13 months animals carried already up to eight different gastrointestinal parasite species. Parasite spectrum found included 11 nematodes, 3 cestodes and 1 protozoan parasite. The most frequent parasite species found were Haemonchus placei (age class 0-1 month: 7%, 1-4 months: 38%, 4-13 months: 69%), Cooperia pectinata (0%, 33% and 44%) and C. punctata (0%, 33% and 38%). Calves born during the rainy season had higher parasite burden and species diversity than calves born during the dry season. Calves kept under modernised management excreted more Strongyloides papillosus eggs than calves kept under traditional management. Calves acquired most of the parasites occurring in adult bovines in West Africa within their first year of life.
Wymann
Monica N
MN
Swiss Tropical Institute, Public Health and Epidemiology, Socinstrasse 57, Basel, Switzerland. monica.wymann@unibas.ch
Bonfoh
Bassirou
B
Traore
Koniba
K
Tembely
Saïdou
S
Zinsstag
Jakob
J
D000367:Age Factors; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000469:parasitology; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008302:Mali / Q000453:epidemiology; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D013045:Species Specificity