PREVALENCE OF GASTRO-INTESTINAL HELMINTHS IN SOME RUMINANT SPECIES AND DOCUMENTATION OF ETHNOVETERINARY PRACTICES IN CHOLISTAN DESERT

Abstract

The present study was carried out to highlight the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths infection among wild and domestic ruminants (Chinkara, Blackbuck; Cattle, Camel, Sheep and Goat, respectively) and documentation of ethnoveterinary practices, spawning their life histories under semi-intensive ecological conditions in Cholistan desert, Pakistan. With this regard, total 1010 feacal samples were collected and analyzed to investigate the presence of gastrointestinal helminths among these ruminants. Parasitological procedures including direct and indirect methods (Sedimentation and floatation) and coproculture were used for the identification of helminths with the help of authentic keys. Among all feacal samples 27 helminth species were recorded e.g. 18 nematodes, 06 trematodes and 03 cestodes, respectively. Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus spp., Chabertia ovina, Trichuris globulosa, Ostertagia circumcincta were most common among nematodes, Fasciola hepatica among trematodes and Moniezia expanda among cestodes. The overall prevalence of helminthiasis were 44.6% in cattle, 43.6% in sheep, 39% in goats, 37.0% in camel, 26.6% in chinkara and 20% in blackbuck with the prominence of nematodes among all. While, their high prevalence were in sub-adult as compared to adult and female as compared to male, respectively. However, poor-resourced farmers in Cholistan are curing their herds with locally available facilities e.g. ethnoveterinary medical (EVM), those are precious source of all pastoralists from ancient era. Therefore, currently EVM practices among these pastoralists were recorded for the development of sole strategies with regard to their efficacy and confirmatory standards for future integrity. For this purposes, 109 local healers and farmers were interviewed through questionnaire for recording commonlivestock ailments treatments practices. The medicinal materials used and their preparation, mode of administration and doses were recorded. Most ingredients among ethnoveterinary practices were plant extract, seeds, leaves, barks of trees, tubers, roots of various plants and others consist of wood ash, common salt, potassium, jaggery, milk fat and spent engine oil etc. These are processed in various ways and administrated to animals for a variety of infectious and non-infectious diseases. However, Livestock healthiness is obligatory for the well being of humanity and sustainability of ecosystems. Hence, the current investigations are key stones to formulate the paramount reforms to achieve the Ideology of White Revolution and to sustain an important wealth of our country, because, helminths - due to their cosmopolitan nature cause serious metabolic disorders leading to retarded growth, lowered productivity and efficiency, ultimately death and huge economic loss. For ideal future, Govt. and Non-Govt. Organizations should launch further phytochemical and pharmacological studies to sustain existing wealth.