Detection, Morphological characterization and epidemiological investigations on parasitic ciliates in buffaloes
Abstract
A survey was conducted to study the epidemiology of parasitic ciliates in buffaloes from Hisar
and Karnal districts of Haryana. Morphological study was also done to differentiate parasitic ciliates
found in pigs and buffaloes. A total of 800 samples were collected (400 from each district) and were
collected randomly. A total of 50 fecal samples were collected from pigs for comparison with buffalo
parasitic ciliates. The samples were processed by direct smear, sedimentation and floatation techniques.
There was significant difference between size of parasitic ciliates in pigs and buffaloes and main
morphological character of buffalo parasitic ciliate was presence of ridge which runs from one end to
other end and location of Cytostome (mouth) which was opposite to progression direction and in pig
parasitic ciliates the Cytostome (mouth) was located at tapering anterior end and with the direction of
progression it is concluded the parasitic ciliates in buffalo as B. sulcata. The overall prevalence of B.
sulcata was 59.12% whereas; it was 54.5% in Hisar and 63.7% in Karnal. Age and sex had no effect on
prevalence of B. sulcata. The risk of prevalence of B. sulcata was lower (OD=0.522) in buffaloes raised
on Pakka floor as compared to Katcha floor. The animals with diarrhoea were at greater risk (OD=6.30)
of having B. sulcata infection as compared to animals without diarrhoea. There was significant
association between degree of intensity of infection with diarrhoea i.e. as degree of intensity increased,
the per cent of diarrhoea positive cases also increased. This study provides evidence that B. sulcata can
be one of the factors of diarrhoea.