A Survey on Caprine Nematodiasis in Ladakh

The present study was conducted for the time period of one year on goats of Ladakh (J&K) with the aim to find out the various nematode parasites infesting goats of this region and their prevalence with regard to season, sex, age, body condition, and agro-ecology. A total of 268 gastro intestinal tracts along with heart and lungs of the host animal of either sex and of different age groups belonging to different areas of the study area were collected randomly and were examined for nematode parasites. Out of these 116 (43.28%) were found infected with single or multiple parasite species. The study reveals the presence of four species of nematodes viz; Trichuris ovis, Haemonchus contortus, Dictyocaulus filaria and Chabertia ovina. It was also observed that among these T. ovis (48.03%) was most dominant followed by H. contortus (41.02%), D. filaria (37.05%) and C. ovina (22.35%) respectively. A significant difference was observed in prevalence of nematode parasites with respect to season, wherein higher prevalence (50.00%) was observed during the rainy season as compared to the dry season 35.93%. Similarly an association was observed between sex and age of the host with prevalence of nematode infections. It was also observed that females were more infected (46.15%) as compared to males (40.57%). Likewise young animals were more infected (45.83%) than the adult ones (41.21%). Similarly an association was observed between prevalence and agro-ecology of the study area where in higher values (45.45%) were recorded for comparatively lowland (Kargil) areas as compared to highland (Leh) areas (40.08%). The study also shown slight relationship between body condition and prevalence wherein the intensity of infection was higher (47.22%) in weak animals as compare to healthy ones (40.62%).Hence, it was concluded that season, sex, age, agro-ecology and body condition are some of the important risk factors associated with nematode parasitism in this area.