A COPROLOGICAL STUDY ON GASTRO-INTESTINAL PARASITE COMMUNITY IN WATER BUFFALOES FROM A ROMANIAN FARM.

Parasite infections are one of the major constraints for profitable animal industry worldwide. Despite of the importance of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in the overall economy of many countries, little is known about the occurrence and prevalence of parasitic species and its potential impact on the animal health and productivity. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the endo-parasitophauna in a water buffalo farm in Romania. For this, during of April 2018, a coprological study was conducted, in which a total number of 105 buffaloes, allocated in four age category (< 6 months, n = 21; 6 months-2 years, n = 20; heifers, n = 30; milking, > 3 years, n = 34) were included. Fecal samples, collected from individual animals, were subjected for analysis by standard qualitative copro-parasitological methods to detect parasitic stages (protozoan oocysts, helminth eggs and larvae). Overall, 55.2% of samples were positive for parasite infection, of which, 36.2% as single parasite species and 18.9% with mixed infections of two (13.8%) and three (5.2%), respectively, parasite species. The endoparasite community included protozoa (Eimeria spp., Giardia intestinalis), trematodes (Fasciola hepatica, Paramphistomum spp., Dicrocoelium dendriticum), tapeworms (Moniezia spp.), and nematodes (lung-worms and digestive strongyles), with different prevalence value, according to the age category. These findings represent an important step for further epidemiological studies in order to develop sustainable control programs for Romanian water buffalo farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]