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Toxocariasis is a paramount parasitic disease having 50% prevalence among newborn buffalo calves in Bangladesh. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of clinically used anthelmintics and their subsequent effect on the haematological parameters and body weight in buffalo calves in commercial buffalo farms in coastal region. Thirty-two buffalo calves below 3 months of age with clinical

Fasciola gigantica, the causative agent of tropical fasciolosis, is a food-borne zoonotic trematode that affects around 80% livestock of Bangladesh. Triclabendazole (TCBZ), nitroxynil (NTON) and oxyclozanide (OCZN) are frequently used against fascioliasis; however, the current status of potency of these flukicides was unknown. In this study, in vitro efficacy of TCBZ, NTON and OCZN at various concentrations on F. gigantica has been evaluated by relative motility (RM), morphological distortions of apical cone through an inverted microscope, architectural and ultra-structural changes through histopathological and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It is observed that TCBZ, NTON and OCZN at higher concentrations significantly (P < 0.05) reduced RM of the flukes compared to untreated control. NTON at 150 μg mL−1 was the most potent to reduce the motility within 4 h whereas TCBZ and OCZN were much delayed. Histopathological changes showed swollen, extensive cracking, numerous vacuoles and splitting of the tegument surrounding the spines; spine dislodged from its socket in treated flukes compared to untreated worms. Histopathological changes were more conspicuous at higher doses of TCBZ, NTON and OCZN. SEM has shown the disruption of the apical cone, apart from swelling of the tegument on the ventral surface corrugation and disruption of the ventral apical cone. All these changes indicate that NTON is the most potent in killing flukes in vitro among the tested flukicides and suggest the presence of TCBZ-resistant fluke populations in Bangladesh. It is imperative to explore the in vivo effects of these flukicides and subsequently their molecular mechanisms.

Fish-borne zoonotic parasites are a rapidly increasing health hazards for human in all over the world. There is a scarcity of information on the fish-borne zoonotic parasite infection in Bangladesh. The present study was aimed to investigate fish-borne helminth parasites in Bhola district. A total of 300 fresh fish samples were collected randomly from different local markets of Bhola district and transported to the laboratory of the Department of Parasitology, BAU. Fishes were homogenized and digested with pepsin-HCl solution for overnight and washed with NaCl solution for 8-9 times and then sediment was examined under a microscope to detect the presence of metacercariae/metacestode. Fishes were found to be infected with multiple infective stages of helminth parasites such as Opisthorchis sp., Clonorchis sp., Diphyllobothrium sp., Metagonimus sp. and Metorchis sp. In this study, 58% overall prevalence of fish-borne zoonotic parasites was recorded. About 80% metacercariae was found in Loitta (Harpadon nehereus) followed by 65% in Spotted snakehead (Channa punctata), 60% in Tilapia (Oreochromis nilolticus), 45% in Stinging catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis) and 24.28% in Indian carplet (Amblypharyngodon microlepis). The plerocercoid of Diphyllobothrium sp. were identified morphologically and was confirmed molecularly by PCR. This study indicates that fish-borne helminth parasites may pose a significant public health risk to the people of Bhola district.

Trichostrongylus is one of the most economically important and zoonotic trichostrongylid nematode infecting both animals and humans, causing a disease known as trichostrongyliasis. The study was designed to identify Trichostrongylus species infecting goats by morphology-morphometry followed by multiplex PCR and phylogenetic characterization. A total of 124 viscera of goats were collected from different slaughter houses of Mymensingh division of Bangladesh, processed and trichostrongylids were isolated and identified under microscope. Among 124 viscera of goats, 39 were positive with two species of Trichostrongylus, namely, T. colubriformis and T. vitrinus showing an overall 31.45% prevalence. Morphological identification of Trichostrongylus species was confirmed by multiplex PCR amplification of ITS2 gene and sequencing (accession numbers ON721586 to ON721593 for T. colubriformis and T. vitrinus, respectively). Partial sequencing of ITS2 gene of T. vitrinus and T. colubriformis showed 3 and 4 haplotypes, respectively and 7 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were detected (3 transitions and 4 transversions). The neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree demonstrated that T. colubriformis and T. vitrinus isolates were clustered together with the reference sequences of T. colubriformis and T. vitrinus isolates that belongs to the clade A and B without any geographical boundaries. This is the first report on molecular study and phylogenetic analysis of Trichostrongylus species from goat in Bangladesh. The finding from this study will provide the baseline data for identification, differentiation and phylogenetic analysis of Trichostrongylus species in Bangladesh. Further, extensive investigation is imperative to reveal the population genetics of Trichostrongylus parasite from other livestock and humans of Bangladesh.

Toxocariasis is a paramount parasitic disease having over 50% prevalence among newborn buffalo calves in Bangladesh. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of clinically used anthelmintics and their subsequent effects on the hematological parameters and body weight in buffalo calves in commercial buffalo farms in coastal region. Thirty-two buffalo calves below 3 months of age with clinical Toxocara infection had been selected and treated with albendazole (ABZ), levamisole (LVM) and ivermectin (IVM). The EPG counts, hematological parameters and initial body weight of buffalo calves were recorded on the day of anthelmintic treatment (day 0). Fecal samples were collected on day 14 and 28 including hematological parameters and body weight were recorded on day 28 post-treatment. The efficacy (%) of anthelmintics were estimated by fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT). The parameters like Hb, PCV, ESR, TEC, TLC were analyzed from the blood samples. The FECRT revealed 96.83% efficacy for IVM followed by 94.23% and 85.84% for LVM and ABZ, respectively. Anthelmintic treated calves showed significant (p

Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is popularly known as the black gold of South Asia, consisting of 97% of the world buffalo population. Among the parasitic infections, Toxocara vitulorum is one of the most common and harmful parasites of buffalo calves in Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study was conducted to explore the prevalence and associated risk factors of T. vitulorum infection of buffalo calves in four regions of Bangladesh. A total of 1751 fecal samples were collected and examined using flotation followed by the McMaster technique for counting the eggs per gram of feces (EPG) of T. vitulorum. The overall prevalence of T. vitulorum infection in buffalo calves was 22.9%. Significantly (p 0.001) higher prevalence was found in the Barishal coastal area (35.7%) followed by Chattogram coastal area (29.2%), northeastern region (15.5%) and northwestern region (8.3%). Buffalo calves aged 1-3 months were heavily infected with T. vitulorum (51.7%) which was statistically different (p 0.001) compared to those3-6 months (27.6%) and 6-12 months (6.5%). According to univariate analysis, coastal regions, rainy season, young age, gender, indigenous river type, buffalo calves with poor body condition and soft feces were found significantly associated with T. vitulorum infections. Coastal regions, rainy season and young age were identified as the risk factors of T. vitulorum infection in buffalo calves by final logistic regression model. This study reveals that T. vitulorum infection is endemic in Bangladesh and widely distributed in the coastal regions. Therefore, attention to buffalo calves regarding in-depth clinical effects and current therapeutic approaches against this nematode should be evaluated along with the economic impact of infection. Exploring the genetic diversity of T. vitulorum may help to reveal the host-parasite relationship in the future.