Prevalence and load of helminths in buffaloes (Syncerus caffer) and cattle (Bos indicus) at Wildlife-Livestock Interface of Murchison Falls National Park

Abstract

Gastrointestinal parasitic infection in both livestock and wildlife is common especially at wildlife-livestock interface causing economic losses, morbidity and sometimes animal mortality in the juvenile and calves. The prevalence, and load of these concealed interactions remain inadequately comprehended unless continuous research is conducted. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and the load of helminths in cattle and African buffaloes at a wildlife-livestock interface of MFNP. A cross-sectional study involving coproparasitological examination (floatation technique, sedimentation technique and McMaster egg count technique) of 77 buffalo and 101 cattle samples collected in the month of April from Latooro was conducted. The helminth eggs recovered in cattle included nematodes (Strongylus spp, Ascaris spp and Trichuris spp), trematodes (Fasciola spp) and cestodes (Moniezia spp) and in buffaloes only nematodes (Strongylus spp, Ascaris spp and Strongyloides spp). The overall prevalence of helminths was 66.23% in buffaloes and 58.42% for cattle. The overall mean loads were 83.31 epg (cattle) and 152.47 epg (buffaloes) Among the age groups of cattle (calves, growers and adults) there was no statistically significant difference in the mean load (p≥0.05) of the helminths. In buffaloes, there was no statistically significant differences in the mean load (p≥0.05) of the different helminths (Strongylus spp and Ascaris spp) among the age groups of the buffaloes. However, Strongyloides spp had statistically significant difference in the mean load (p≥0.05) among the age groups of buffaloes with sub-adults and adults having no statistically different mean loads (p≥0.05) of Strongyloides spp while the juveniles had a statistically different mean load (p≥0.05) for Strongyloides spp. In species comparison of buffaloes and cattle, there was no statistically significant difference in the mean load (p≥0.05) of Moniezia spp, Ascaris spp, Trichuris spp and Fasciola spp but there was statistically significant difference in the mean load (p≥0.05) of Strongylus spp and Strongyloides spp. This research demonstrated that gastro-intestinal parasites are numerous in buffalo. Cross transmission to domestic animals as well as humans could be possible with the prevailing interactions at the interfaces. A longitudinal study involving picking samples from different interface sites and helminth identification to species level while considering other risk factors would give a vivid picture on the level of interaction and its effects at the wildlife-livestock interface.