EPIZOOTIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON GASTROINTESTINAL HELMINTHS AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS IN THE DAIRY ANIMALS OF INTERNAL DRAINAGE DRY ZONE OF RAJASTHAN, INDIA

: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of gastrointestinal helminthic infections in dairy animals of internal drainage dry zone of Rajasthan, India. A total of 609 fecal samples were examined from September 2016 to August 2017. Out of them, 295 (Buffalo: 111, Cattle:184) were found positive with an overall prevalence of 48.44% for different gastrointestinal helminthic infections. The study revealed strongyles as the most dominant infection (44.99%) followed by Strongyloides sp. (6.90%). Seasonal dynamics revealed a highly significant statistical seasonal variation (p<0.05) with maximum infection in rainy season (60.10%) whereas, a non-significant statistical difference in district wise prevalence was reported with the highest prevalence rate in Nagaur district (54.97%). Multivariate binary logistic regression model revealed positive association of summer (B=0.83) and rainy seasons (B=1.39) when compared to winter season whereas, association was reported positive in Nagaur (B=0.27) and negative in Jhunjhunu (B= - 1.42) and Churu (B= - 0.15) districts when compared to Sikar district. Similarly, a negative association in crossbred (B= - 0.75) and buffaloes (B= - 0.53) as compared to native animals was reported in the study. Quantitative analysis presented a mild to moderate gastrointestinal parasitic infection in terms of EPG (eggs per gram of feces) ranged from 100 - 400 (228.57±42.06) and 100 - 300 (166.67±33.33) for stongyles and Strongyloides sp. respectively. No fluke infection was reported in the dairy animals of the study area during the study period. Coproculture examination exhibited Haemonchus as the most predominant nematode genus, followed by Oesophagostomum sp., Strongyloides sp., Trichostrongylus sp. and Cooperia sp. in the decreasing order of prevalence. The current investigation may be used to formulate effective control strategies against gastrointestinal helminthic infections in the dairy animals of the region.