Prevalence of fluke infestation in sheep flocks of Rajasthan, India

ABSTRACT

To chalk-out suitable management strategy for fluke infestation in sheep flocks, their prevalence was studied in two different agro-climatic regions of Rajasthan. From April, 2004 to March, 2018, a total of 89112 faecal samples were examined for flukes by sedimentation technique. An overall prevalence was maximum (6.08%) for Paramphistomum spp. followed by 0.19% for Schistosoma indicum and minimum (0.03%) for Fasciola gigantica. Prevalence of Paramphistomum spp. and S. indicum was significantly higher in semi-arid region (8.66 and 0.22%) compared to arid region (1.51 and 0.12%). The overall annual prevalence rates varied significantly from 1.69 to 9.70% for Paramphistomum spp, from 0.02 to 1.73% for S. indicum and from nil to 0.12% for F. gigantica. The prevalence of all the three flukes was found to be influenced significantly by month and season. For Paramphistomum spp, the overall monthly prevalence varied from 0.15% (Nov) to 16.60% (Jul). The seasonal prevalence was maximum during monsoon and minimum during winter. The occurrence of F. gigantica was sporadic in arid region as compared to regularity in semi-arid region. The monthly profile of S. indicum exhibited significantly higher prevalence (>0.20%) from May to August in arid region and from July to October in semi-arid region. A significant effect of agro-climatic region on prevalence of S. indicum was noticed only during monsoon season with higher incidence in semi-arid region (0.59%) as compared to arid region (0.25%). The study suggested that the fluke infections are present in endemic pattern in sheep flocks of Rajasthan (particularly in semi-arid region) and deserves serious attention. Therefore, it is important to obtain detail information on host parasite relationship and snail species which will aid for developing suitable control strategies.

KEYWORDS:

• Arid
• flukes
• prevalence
• Rajasthan
• semi-arid
• sheep

Acknowledgments

The study was supported by ICAR, New Delhi under All India Network Programme on Gastrointestinal Parasitism. The facilities provided by Director, ICAR-CSWRI, Avikanagar are thankfully acknowledged.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The study was supported by ICAR, New Delhi under All India Network Programme on Gastrointestinal Parasitism.