dc.description.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. |
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