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Subject: Veterinary Parasitology × Start date: 1983 ×
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Now showing 1 - 9 of 26
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Trematodes of Paramphistomatidae Infecting Domestic Ruminants
    (Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, 1987) Tarun Shankar, Nath; KAU; George Varghese, C
    The thesis embodied the results of an investigation on the prevalence of amphistome infection and their specific identity in different domestic ruminants (cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats) of Kerala state. A total of 1490 faecal samples from domestic ruminants were collected from different places of Kerala State during a period from April 1985 to March 1986. These samples were examined by sedimentation technique to detect infection with amphistomes and their prevalence. Viscera of 780 slaughtered/ dead ruminants from different parts of Kerala were examined in addition and the available amphistomes were collected for the study and specific identification. The flukes were studied alive, flattened and stained and in certain cases by microtomy sections. Result of the study indicated that the prevalence of infection was far more in cattle and buffaloes than in sheep and goats. The rate of prevalence in cattle, buffaloes and goats was 20.16%, 28.57% and 3.22% respectively. In slaughtered/dead animals the prevalence was 33.09%, 34.67%, 4.17% and 5.81% respectively in cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats. The highest prevalence was recorded during the rainy season and lowest in dry/summer season. Prevalence during south west monsoon was 38.08% and 20.73% during North East monsoon. The seasonal prevalence hardly varied between cattle and buffaloes but it was consistently low in sheep and goats. Most of the prevalence in all animals were of mixed origin. A total number of 17 species belonging to eight genera of amphistomes were identified. Cevlonocotyle spinicephalus (Tandon, 1955) was recorded from new hosts i.e, cattle and goats, cotylophoron chauhani from goats, in addition to the already reported hosts, buffaloes and sheep respectively. The following conclusions are drawn on the basis of the results of this study: Amphistomes are most prevalent in cattle and buffaloes. Though the infection with amphistomes exists throughout the year, it is definitely more in monsoon seasons. Ceylonocotyle spinicephalus (Tandon, 1955) occurs in cattle and goats and cotylophoron chauhani (Gupta and Gupta, 1972 ) in goats also.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Immunodiagnosis of bovine gastrothylacosis using coproantigens
    (Department of parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2000) Kandasamy, A; KAU; Devada, K
    A study was conducted on the prevalence of paramphistomatidosis in Thrissur from June 1999 to May 2000, feasibility of coproantigen detection by ELlSA and comparison of sensitivity of ELlSA using coproantigens and ELlSA using serum antibodies in diagnosis of gastrothylacosis, caused by Gastrothy/ax crumenifer, in cattle. It was noted from the registers maintained at the University Veterinary Hospitals at Kokkalai and Mannuthy and that at the Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, that out of a total number of 1534 faecal samples from bovines examined, 253 (16.5 per cent) animals were found to be positive for amphistome eggs with the maximum prevalence (23 per cent) in June and July. Generally the infection was prevalent throughout the year. An indirect ELlSA using rabbit hyperimmune serum against somatic antigens of G. crumenifer was performed to detect coproantigens in faecal samples collected from 100 known G. crumenifer infected cattle. Seventy four samples were found to contain detectable levels of coproantigen indicating a sensitivity of 74 per cent. Serum samples collected from the same infected cattle were tested for antibodies to G. crumenifer by an indirect ELlSA using somatic antigens. Fifty one samples were found positive for antibodies indicating a sensitivity of 51 per cent. It was seen that when 43 cattle were positive for both coproantigens and serum antibodies, 18 cattle were negative for both of them. Although 31 cattle which were negative for serum antibodies were found positive for coproantigens, eight cattle negative for coproantigens were found positive for serum antibodies. The results showed that coproantigen detection, which revealed a higher sensitivity than the detection of serum antibodies by ELlSA, is feasible for the diagnosis of gastrothylacosis in bovines.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Helminth Parasites Of Indian Elephants
    (Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,Mannuthy, 1988) Khomdram Somorendro, KAU; Chandrasekharan, K
    The present study was conducted over a period of one year, during which dung samples from 203 Captive Indian elephants from different parts (urban, village and forests) of Kerala of different age and sex were examined. Out of this, 117 elephants were found to be infected with different hel - minth parasites either as pure or mixed infection. The overall prevalence of helminthiasis was 57.6 per cent. Helminthiasis was more during rainy season (70 per cent) than dry or summer season (52.44 per cent). Eleven species of adult nematodes and three species of adult amphistomes and eggs of Bivetellobilharzia nairi and Anoplocephala manubriata were recorded during this study. The nematode parasites were Murshidia murshidia, Murshidia falcifera, Quilonia renniei, Amira pileata, Choniangium epistomum, Equinubria sipunculiformis, Decrusia additictia, Grammocephalus hybridatus, Grammocephalus varedatus, Parabronema indicum, Parabronema smithi and the amphistomes were Pseudodiscus collinsi, Pseudodiscus hawkesii and Gastrodiscus secundus. The more common species were Murshidia murshidia and Murshidia falcifera. Anthelmintic efficacy of albendazole (Albomar) was assessed on the basis of the reduction of eggs in the dung samples. A single oral dosage of 2.5 and 3 mg per kg body weight was found 100 per cent effective against strongyle infection in naturally infected captive Indian elephants.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of certain biopesticides and irradiation on the developmental stages of myiasis producing flies
    (Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,Mannuthy, 1998) Subramanian, H; KAU; Rajamohanan, K
    A study was undertaken on the prevalence of cutaneous myiasis in domestic animals and its control using bio-pesticides and gamma irradiation. The prevalence of cutaneous myiasis in domestic animals was found to be 205 (2.08 per cent) among .the 9861 animals screened. The peak of infestation was noted in the month of January. In host-wise and parasite-wise the highest incidence was noted in cattle (63.41 per cent) and the majority of infestation was produced by Chrysomya bezziana larvae (90.73 per cent). Methoprene at 1 to 50 ppm concentration caused only moderate mortality on larvae but significantly increased the mortality rate on eggs, prolonged the larval phase, increased the formation of larval pupal intermediaries and adult deformities and reduced the adult emergence. Diflubenzuron at 0.5 to 5 ppm caused 55 to 100 per cent larvicidal effect due to lowered chitin content of 18.42 to 52.11 per cent in larval cuticle. Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis produced only moderate larval mortality at 160 to 800 ppm in myiasis producing flies. Azadirachtin at 10.5 to 15 ppm produced 100 per cent mortality in eggs and larvae. Significant antifeedant, ovipositional deterrent and repellant effects were also produced by Azadirachtin. Among the extracts of Acarus calamus, studied, petroleum ether extract at 2.5 per cent concentration gave 82.5 to 100 per cent mortality of the larvae. Moderate antifeedant, ovipositional deterrent and repellant effects were also noticed. The petroleum ether extract produced 100 per cent sterility at 0.1 to 1 per cent concentration by preventing the development of ovarian follicles. Three day old pupae of myiasis producing flies exposed to r-rays gave excellent sterility effect at 2000 to 4000 rads radiation exposure without any other deleterious effect in the flies. Diflubenzuron at 5 ppm concentration showed the highest larvicidal effect (88.5 per cent) in natural cases of cutaneous myiasis.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Trematodes of paramphistomatidae infecting domestic ruminants
    (Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,Mannuthy, 1987) Tarun Shankar Nath, KAU; George Varghese, C
    The thesis embodied the results of an investigation on the prevalence of amphistome infection and their specific identity in different domestic ruminants (cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats) of Kerala state. A total of 1490 faecal samples from domestic ruminants were collected from different places of Kerala State during a period from April 1985 to March 1986. These samples were examined by sedimentation technique to detect infection with amphistomes and their prevalence. Viscera of 780 slaughtered/ dead ruminants from different parts of Kerala were examined in addition and the available amphistomes were collected for the study and specific identification. The flukes were studied alive, flattened and stained and in certain cases by microtomy sections. Result of the study indicated that the prevalence of infection was far more in cattle and buffaloes than in sheep and goats. The rate of prevalence in cattle, buffaloes and goats was 20.16%, 28.57% and 3.22% respectively. In slaughtered/dead animals the prevalence was 33.09%, 34.67%, 4.17% and 5.81% respectively in cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats. The highest prevalence was recorded during the rainy season and lowest in dry/summer season. Prevalence during south west monsoon was 38.08% and 20.73% during North East monsoon. The seasonal prevalence hardly varied between cattle and buffaloes but it was consistently low in sheep and goats. Most of the prevalence in all animals were of mixed origin. A total number of 17 species belonging to eight genera of amphistomes were identified. Cevlonocotyle spinicephalus (Tandon, 1955) was recorded from new hosts i.e, cattle and goats, cotylophoron chauhani from goats, in addition to the already reported hosts, buffaloes and sheep respectively. The following conclusions are drawn on the basis of the results of this study: Amphistomes are most prevalent in cattle and buffaloes. Though the infection with amphistomes exists throughout the year, it is definitely more in monsoon seasons. Ceylonocotyle spinicephalus (Tandon, 1955) occurs in cattle and goats and cotylophoron chauhani (Gupta and Gupta, 1972 ) in goats also.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of different techniques for the diagnosis of bovine babesiosis
    (Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2003) Renjitha, T S; KAU; Deveda, K
    Different techniques to diagnose bovine babesiosis were evaluated by screening 71 cattle presented at the various Veterinary Hospitals of Thrissur and Ernakulam districts and those maintained at the University Livestock Farm, Mannuthy and the Cattle Breeding Farm, Thumburmuzhi with symptoms suggestive of the disease. The techniques employed were examination ofGiemsa stained blood smears, examination of ticks collected from suspected animals and serological tests like the Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IF AT) and Slide- Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (Slide-ELISA). Among the 71 cattle, 11 were suffering from an acute illness whereas 60 showed only subclinical symptoms. Examination of Giemsa stained blood smear could detect Babesia bigemina organisms in 9 (12.68 per cent) of the total samples, which were mainly from the acutely infected cattle, except for one, that was obtained from a subclinically infected calf. The principal vector of babesiosis was identified as Boophilus annulatus in the present study. Parasitic masses indicative of the organisms were identified from the various tick tissues dissected and stained with methyl green pyronine. Considering the ticks as positive on detection of developmental stages of the parasite in any of the tissues, ticks from 27 (54 per cent) out of total 50 animals were interpreted as positive. The IFAT detected B. bigemina antibodies in 37 (52.11 per cent) and Slide-ELISA in 39 (54.93 per cent) sera out of 71 samples that were screened. These two serological techniques were found to be equally efficient, with Slide- ELISA proving more suitable for use as a field diagnostic test. Most of the animals that were detected positive for the organisms by all the tests, were above one year of age. As the number of male and female animals was too uneven, a sex related comparison could not be appropriately done. Similarly, a comparison on the performance of the different tests between the breeds was also not feasible owing to the wide variation between the numbers of breeds studied. On evaluation of the different diagnostic techniques, serology and examination. of ticks were found equally effective in detecting both the clinical and subclinical forms of the disease over and above the conventional method i.e., the blood smear examination. However, examination of Giemsa stained blood smears continues to be the method of choice to detect acute infections.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Immunodiagnosis of canine dirofilariosis using microfilarial antigen
    (Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2003) Priya, M N; KAU; Subramanian, H
    A detailed study was conducted on the prevalence on canine dirofilariosis in Thrissur from June 2002 to May 2003, feasibility of microfilarial antibody detection by ELISA and comparison of sensitivity of Indirect ELISA and dot- ELISA in the detection of dirofilariosis. Microfilariae encountered were identified as those of Dirofilaria repens. Out of the total number of2435 blood samples from dogs screened by wet film examination 172 (7.06 per cent) dogs were found positive for microfilariae. It has been found that canine dirofilariosis was prevalent throughout the year with more incidence during summer. An Indirect ELISA and dot-ELISA were also conducted in three groups of animals using microfilarial antigen prepared from known microfilaria positive serum samples. Out of the total number of 50 samples of known microfilaria positive dogs 49 (98 per cent) and 47 (94 per cent) were found positive by Indirect ELISA and dot-ELISA respectively. The corresponding figures in 36 dogs with other helminths were 15 (41.67 per cent) and 19 (52.77 per cent) and that of32 totally helminth free dogs were 10 (31.25 per cent) and 12 (37.5 per cent) respectively. The results indicate that both Indirect ELISA and dot-ELISA are feasible for the detection of the microfilarial antibodies though they are less specific.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Immunoprophylaxis against common dog tick using gut antigen
    (Department of Veterinary Parasitology,College of Veterinary and Animal Science,Mannuthy, 2005) Ajithkumar, K G; KAU; Subramanian, H
    The occurrence of tick infestation in dogs in the Corporation of Thrissur, Kerala, India, was studied in 1200 dogs during a period of one year from July 2004 to June 2005. Four hard tick species viz Rhipicephalus sanguineus, R. haemaphysaloides, Haemaphysalis bispinosa, H. bispinosa var. intermedia were identified. Significant difference in species wise prevalence was found on 124 tick positive dogs. The most prevalent species of tick infesting dogs was found to be R. sanguineus (8.58 per cent) followed by H. bispinosa (1.33 per cent), R. haemaphysaloides (0.33 per cent) and H. bispinosa var. intermedia (0.08 per cent). Three species of ticks namely R. haemaphysaloides, H. bispinosa, and H. bispinosa var. intermedia have been recorded in dogs for the first time from Kerala. The influence of month, season, age, gender and breed on the prevalence rate were observed. Prevalence rates were calculated by month, season, age, gender and breed. No significant difference (P>0.05) of tick infestation during different months was observed due to temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall. No clear pattern of seasonality was observed for R. sanguineus, which was present throughout the year. The different variables considered in the present study such as age and gender were not significantly associated with the presence of tick infestation in dogs. There was a highly significant (P<0.01) association between breed and the intensity of infestation with maximum intensity of infestation in German shepherd dogs. Sites of attachment of ticks were ear, neck, interdigital space, dorsum of the body, eyelids, perianal region, withers, thorax and hind limbs. Highly significant variation (P<0.01) was observed between attachment sites with maximum on ear (84.68 per cent) followed by neck and interdigital space. Tick-bite naive guinea pigs inoculated with gut extracts and Freund’s adjuvant revealed induced immunity against R. sanguineus expressed by altered feeding and fertility parameters consisting of the prolonged engorgement period, reduced engorged female weight and feeding efficiency index, prolonged pre oviposition period, reduced oviposition period, egg mass weight, egg rate conversion efficiency and larval mass. Except the incubation period all the reproductive and feeding parameters differed significantly compared to the control. Inradermal test done on immunised guinea pigs to assess cell mediated immunity revealed both immediate and delayed hypersensitivity reaction. Humoral immune response assessed by agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) and passive haemagglutination (PHA) revealed that the former was less sensitive compared to the latter. Passive haemagglutination test detected anti tick antibodies as early as 14th day post immunisation. Peak titre 1:128 reached on the 35th day post immunisation.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Immune response of cattle to Boophilus annulatus (Acari : Ixodoidea)
    (Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1992) Sreekrishnan, R; KAU; Rajamohanan, K
    A study was undertaken to assess the nature and degree of development of acquired resistance in calves against the cattle tick Boophilus annulatus. Observations were made mainly on the development of natural resistance against repeat infestations and the effect of artificial immunization using the tick antigen. Tissue reactions induced by the ticks at the site of bite were also studied. The results indicated the development of resistance in the host, which was gradual and varying in degrees. Immunodiffusion test failed to reveal the presence of tick antibodies in the sera of calves after repeated infestations, indicating that easily demonstrable quantities of antibodies are not developed even after repeated infestations. The cellular reactions at the site of tick – bite revealed the development of a resistant reaction at the site of bite. Studies made on artificial immunization using the whole – tick extract gave varying results. However, the immunodiffusion test using sera of immunized calves revealed that there is a steady maintenance of antibody level throughout the infestation period. Thus, the results obtained in the present study indicate that antibodies are developed against the tick Boophilus annulatus in calves on natural infestations and using the tick antigen, and that there is a clear possibility of immunizing calves against B. annulatus artificially.