Parasitologia hungarica

Author(s): Redl, P., Holló, F. & Brauswetter, V.
Title: On the prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes of cattle in Hungary
Title: Adatok a szarvasmarha gyomor-bél férgesség magyarországi elterjedtségéhez
Year: 1988
Volume: 21
Pages: 71-83.

Abstract: Laboratory examination of gastrointestinal contents of 58 previously grazed cattle, originating from 5 counties, was carried out to study the gastrointestinal helminth fauna of the cattle stock in Hungary. In the 55 infected cattle, 11 helminth species were found: Ostertagia ostertagi (91.3%), Grosspiculagia podjapolskyi (55.1%), Cooperia punctata (51.7%), Trichostrongylus axei (48.2%), Haemonchus contortus (46.5%), Cooperia oncophora (36.2%), Nematodirus helvetianus (10.3%), Bunostomum phlebotomum (8.6%), Trichostrongylus colubriformis (5.1%), Ostertagia circumcincta (1.7%), Chabertia ovina (1.7%). The average of total worm count was 1059 indicating a mild subclinical infection. Further 31 bovine abomasa were examined by conventional (decantation) and by enzyme digestion methods. Of these 16 (51%) contained trichostrongylid worms. The average worm count of the infected specimens was 2250. In 15 specimens larvae of histotropic phase could be demonstrated by enzyme digestion. The average number of larvae was 332 in the infected specimens: 31.1% of larvae were demonstrated in the decantates, while 68.9% of them in the digested mucosa of the wall of abomasum. Quantitative faecal examination of 1158 cattle (344 cows, 42 bulls, 170 calves, 410 heifers, 92 fattening bulls and 100 fattening heifers), originating from 18 farms, was carried out. Eggs of gastrointestinal helminths were demonstrated by a single examination in 69.9% of specimens. The percentage of infected animals and the number of eggs per gram faeces (EPG) was lower in the cow and bull stocks. Higher values were found in younger animals: the proportion of positive animals was 85 to 94%. However, the EPG values also proved to be very low (137 to 198) in these animals.
Keywords: Hungary, prevalence, cattle, gastrointestinal nematodes, subclinical parasitic gastroenteritis, post-mortem investigation, coprological investigation

Journal: Parasitologia Hungarica
Journal abbreviation:
ISSN: 0303-688X
Publisher: Kontakt Studió, Budapest
Editor(s): K. Murai, É., Thoma, A., Majoros, G. & Dezső, Gy.