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Background: Ticks are blood sucking ectoparasites that act as host for various pathogens like bacteria, viruses and protozoans that cause a number of diseases in humans and animals. They pose a serious threat to livestock industry because their major hosts are cattle and buffaloes. Present study was conducted in this scenario to find out prevalence and distribution of ticks in specified areas. Materials and Methods: This research was conducted from January 2021 to July 2021. Two hundred large ruminants were examined on monthly basis. In order to find out prevalence area, age, gender, and seasonal parameters were observed. Total one hundred and ninety ticks were collected from different parts of their body. Results: Identified Species: Five species belonging to two genra (Hyalomma and Rhipicephalus) and one sub genus (Boophilus) were identified including Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma excavatum, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decolorates and Rhipicephalus camicasi. Hyalomma excavatum was the most prevalent specie. Percentage Prevalence: Tehsil Gujrat was the most affected by tick infestation (67%) followed by Tehsil Kharian (55%) and Tehsil Sarai Alamgir (39%). This study suggested that cattle were more susceptible to tick infestation (58%) than buffaloes (50%). Effect of Seasonal Variations on Tick Infestation: Seasonal variations has major influence on tick infestation. They were more prevalent in summer followed by spring and winter. Temperature, humidity and rainfall has significant effect on tick infestation (p<0.05). Gender: Males were more susceptible to tick infestation (77%) as compared to the females (40%). Age: Large ruminants at younger age (4years). Predilection Sites: Major predilection sites of ticks were external genitals (42%), followed by the tail (14%), dewlap (11%), udder (9%), thighs (8%) face (5%) and flanks (3%). Breeds: Australian Friesian breed among cows (38%) and Neeli Ravi breed among buffaloes (25%) was more likely to be infested with ticks. Conclusion: Keeping in view prevalence rate and factors influencing spread of ticks further studies should be planned to design management systems in order to minimize the economic losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The present study was conducted to investigate prevalence of intestinal parasites and the risk factors related to socio-demographic characteristics of patients admitted in pathology ward, General Hospital, Gujranwala. Methodology: 318 stool samples were collected from patients and examined under light microscope by using wet mount technique. While socio-demographic information was collected in the form of a questionnaire. Results: The results showed seven (n = 7) species of intestinal parasites were prevalent in stool samples of patients. Among them, four (n = 4) were helminth and three (n = 3) were protozoan parasites causing single and mixed infections. Overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 78.3% (n = 249/318) considering both male and female patients. Highest prevalence was recorded for A. lumbricoides (n = 125, 39.3%) followed by H. nana (n = 10, 3.1%), S. stercoralis and T. saginata (n = 6, 1.9%). Among protozoan parasites, higher prevalence was recorded in G. lamblia (n = 23, 7.2%) followed by E. histolytica (n = 21, 6.6%). Among single infections, the most prevalent parasite was A. lumbricoides and less prevalent parasites were S. stercoralis and T. saginata. The factors that had significant effect (p < 0.05) on prevalence of parasitic species were contaminated water, food, soil, and surrounding environment. Conclusions: The present study determined that the parasite helminth (A. lumbricoides, H. nana, S. stercoralis, T. saginata) and protozoan (G. lamblia and E. histolytica) are common that pose an important public health concern in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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• The present study has been carried out to evaluate KAP of inhabitants of North Waziristan Agency, KPK province of Pakistan regarding CL. • A cross-sectional study based on community was piloted in new emerging district North Waziristan Agency KPK province of Pakistan from August 2019- February, 2020 to examine the Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) of the community regarding CL. • The study's findings indicate the participants of study areas have limited knowledge related to aetiology, risk factors and treatment facilities of CL. • It is recommended to initiate health education and awareness campaigns to reduce the disease risk and burden in this highly endemic area in near future. Recent outbreaks of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) in Waziristan make the disease a public health concern in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, Pakistan. The awareness and behavior of local community towards the disease is an important factor towards effective control and management of CL in endemic areas of Pakistan. A cross-sectional community based survey was piloted in new emerging district of North Waziristan Agency (KPK province), Pakistan from August 2019- February 2020. The study aimed to examine the Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) of the local community members regarding CL. The results revealed that majority of the participants were male. Only 48.2% participants have knowledge about CL and the respondents had a moderate knowledge of CL vector and the disease. Few of the respondents were aware that CL is caused by sand flies, their breeding place, biting time, transmission of CL and control measures. Skin infection and sand-flies were the main disease symptoms and disease vector were known to some of the respondents. Most of the respondents showed positive attitude towards disease seriousness and believed that the disease could be cured and can be treated through modern medicines. Admission to hospitals, cleanliness and use of bed nets were the treatment measures for the disease in suspected patients, whereas some believed that the use of bed nets could be helpful in preventing the leishmaniasis. Moderate knowledge of the CL and its transmission in the study area emphasize the need to initiate health education and awareness campaigns to reduce the disease risk and burden in this highly endemic area in near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using excretory-secretory antigen (ESA) and Zinc sulphate sedimentation technique for coprodiagnosis. A comparison was made between both techniques for rapid and accurate diagnosis based on 200 serum and faecal samples from cattle (n=117) and buffaloes (n=83). In the first step, ELISA was standardized by using sera from Fasciola infected and non-infected animals. The level of sensitivity observed was 100%, while 95% specificity against Gigantocotyle explanatum and Paramphistomum spp. or a mixed infection with both parasites was noted. Fasciolosis rate was significantly (P<0.05) higher in buffaloes in which 60% prevalence was found for indirect ELISA and 53% in case of coprological analysis, while on other hand in cattle prevalence rate was 50 and 37%, respectively. The results showed a significant (P<0.05) breed difference in cattle. Furthermore, the significant difference was noted in buffaloes with reference to age and sex groups. After contrasting data from ELISA and faecal analysis, 11% of the sera analyzed had positive values of indirect-ELISA and negative by faecal analysis. The findings suggest that indirect ELISA is an efficient diagnostic technique and combination of both techniques could be useful for accurate diagnosis of fascioliasis in endemic areas. It is recommended that both cattle and buffaloes should be screened by applying both serological and coprological techniques in other agro-ecological zones of Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]