Parasitic infections in dairy cattle around Hanoi, northern Vietnam

• Published in: Veterinary parasitology Vol. 153; no. 3; pp. 384 - 388
• Main Authors: Geurden, T., Somers, R., Thanh, N.T.G., Vien, L.V., Nga, V.T., Giang, H.H., Dorny, P., Giao, H.K., Vercruysse, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 31-05-2008; Amsterdam; New York: Elsevier
• Subjects: Anaplasma marginale; animal parasitic nematodes; Animals; Antibodies, Helminth - analysis; Babesia bigemina; blood sampling; Cattle; cattle diseases; Cattle Diseases - epidemiology; Cattle Diseases - parasitology; Cryptosporidium; Dairy; dairy cattle; Dairying - methods; disease prevalence; epidemiological studies; Fasciola; Fascioliasis - epidemiology; Fascioliasis - parasitology; Fascioliasis - veterinary; Feces - parasitology; Female; Giardia; Giardia lamblia; Haemonchus; Hanoi; Helminthiasis, Animal - epidemiology; Helminthiasis, Animal - parasitology; Milk - immunology; milk analysis; Nematoda; nematode infections; Nematode Infections - epidemiology; Nematode Infections - parasitology; Nematode Infections - veterinary; Neospora caninum; Paramphistomum; Parasite; Parasite Egg Count - veterinary; Prevalence; protozoal infections; small farms; Species Specificity; Vietnam; Vietnam - epidemiology; Vietnam; Parasite; Dairy; Vietnam; Prevalence; Hanoi
• ISSN: 0304-4017; 1873-2550
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2008.01.031

In northern Vietnam, dairy cattle are mainly managed in small-scale farms, where animals are kept confined and feeding occurs by cut and carry methods. In the present study the occurrence of parasitic infections was examined in five provinces around Hanoi. A total of 201 farms were visited, and 334 stool and 239 blood samples were collected from calves younger than 3 months, animals between 3 and 24 months and adult cows. Furthermore, 254 milk samples were collected from lactating animals. Coproscopical examination indicated a high prevalence of nematode eggs (
Cooperia spp.,
Haemonchus and
Oesophagostomum spp.) in animals (
n
=
176) between 3 and 24 months (66%) and in adult cows (
n
=
90; 54%). In these age groups the prevalence of
Fasciola was 28% and 39%, respectively, and for
Paramphistomum the prevalence was 78% and 82%, respectively. Fifty percent of the calves younger than 3 months (
n
=
68) were positive for
Giardia, and none for
Cryptosporidium. Most
Giardia isolates were identified as the non-zoonotic
G. duodenalis assemblage E on the β-giardin gene. The blood samples were examined with commercially available Svanovir
®Elisa's for the presence of
Anaplasma marginale and
Babesia bigemina specific antibodies, and a prevalence of 28% and 54% was found, respectively. In the milk samples
Neospora caninum specific antibodies (Svanovir
®Elisa) were detected in 30% of the lactating animals. The present study demonstrates that parasitic infections occur frequently in dairy cattle around Hanoi although animals are mainly kept confined, and indicates that further research on the economic impact of these infections is needed.