| Helminthiasis in domestic animals, including trematodiasis, teniasis, nematodosis and acanthocephaliasis, is a kind of important infectious disease which can threat animal husbandry. Some species can infect both human and domestic animals and have public health significance. In Southern China, there are a large number of grasslands in mountain areas, which have warm-moist climate and rich resources of herbage and are suitable for development of animal husbandry. However, the controlling of helminthiasis of grazing animals is still relatively weak. It was still not clear on the pathogens, epidemic situation and characteristics of infection and transmission. In order to understand the endemic situation of helminthiasis in goats from grasslands in mountain areas in southern China and provide a basis for prevention and control these diseases, from May 2013 to May 2014, we carried out a longitudinal study of the positive rate of goat helminthiasis in Huangshantou Town, Gongan County,Hubei Province. In addition, we also conducted a longitudinal study of the positive rate of trematodiasis in cattle and water buffalo from Gaoshi Town, Wangjiang County, Anhui Province, and molecular characterization of Fasciola spp. in Anhui province.1. Endemic situation and seasonality of nematode infectionA total of 1200 fecal samples were detected from May 2013 to May 2014. Results showed that local goats were infected with Haemonchus contortus, Chabertia, Bunostomum trigonocephalum,Oesophagostomum, Trichostrongylus, Trichuris, Ostertagia, Nematodirus and lungworms, with positive rate of 57.7%, 46.7%, 6%, 15%, 1.5%, 1.2%, 7.4%, 0.3% and 10.6%, respectively. Haemonchus contortus and Chabert were the dominant species, with significant higher positive rate than others(P <0.05). Goats could be infected in the whole year with gastrointestinal nematodes, especially the dominant species of Haemonchus contortus and Chabert, with high prevalence and EPG. However, the infection of lungworm was found only in May. There was no significant difference in the infection rate of Haemonchus contortus and Chabertia among different ages and between sexes.2. Endemic situation and seasonality of trematode infection.The results of egg detection in 1200 fecal samples showed that the goats and bovines were infected with only Fasciola and the infection occurred in the whole year. The positive rate of Fasciola infection in goats was 3.50%–37.00% and the mean number of eggs per gram(EPG) ranged from 29 to 166. Both the positive rate and EPG exhibited downward trends with significant differences. The positive rate of Fasciola infection in goats weas relative with the month age, sexes and lacations. The positive rate increased with aging incresement, and was higher in female and the goats grazed in low damp areas compared with male and the goats grazed in higher ground. In Wangjiang County, the positive rate of Fasciola infection in cattle and water buffalo ranged from 11.33% to 42.76% and the mean EPG ranged from 34 to 177 with a higher positive rate and EPG from June to October than December to March.Both the positive rate and the mean EPG in cattle was significantly(P < 0.05) higher than those in water buffalo. The first and second internal transcribed spacers(ITS-1 and ITS-2) of nuclear ribosomal DNA(r DNA) from 39 Fasciola worms were sequenced. Results revealed that both F. hepatica and F.gigantica were present in Anhui province and F. gigantica mainly infect water buffalo. Our results from Hubei province also showed that mass treatments with closantel sodium injection in April and August/September effectively controlled Fasciola infection.3. Endemic situation and seasonality of cestode infectionThe results of egg detection and necropsy showed that there was only Moniezia Blanchard in goats.The positive rates obtained from 6 invetigations were 5%, 14.5%,6%, 0%, 3.5% and 6.5%,with mean EPGs of 1365, 1107.7, 1365.5, 141.7, 0, 1771.4, 869.2, respectively.Conclusion: Results obtained here have a whole opinion about the endemic situation and seasonality helminth infection in goats grazed in grasslands in mountain areas in Hubei Province and defined the dominant helminth species. This is also the first demonstration of Fasciola infection in Hubei province and the existence of both F. hepatica and F. gigantica in Anhui province. These results provided basis for the development of scientific and rational strategy for the prevention and control of helminth infection. |
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