DefinePK

Abstract

The study provides evidence of a high prevalence of zoonotic gastrointestinal parasites in fecal samples from beef and dairy cattle in a central area of northeastern Thailand. This finding is particularly significant given the lack of previously reported data on potential zoonotic intestinal parasites in cattle from this region. In total, 78 and 79 fecal samples from beef cattle and dairy cattle were collected directly from fresh stool and then processed using fecal floatation and fecal sedimentation techniques to examine for intestinal protozoa and nemathelminths, respectively. In this study, 71.79% of fecal samples from beef cattle were infected with at least one parasite. In beef cattle, five groups of parasites were strongyles (51.28%), Strongyloides spp. (8.97%), Trichuris spp. (1.28%), Moniezia spp. (1.28%) and Eimeria spp. (8.97%). In dairy cattle, 84.81% (67/79) of samples showed positive with infection. Seven species of potentially zoonotic parasites are strongyles (64.56%), Strongyloides spp. (1.27%), Trichuris spp. (2.5%), Cappillaria spp. (2.5%), Toxocara spp. (5.06%), Eimeria spp. (10.13%) and Balantidium spp. (1.27%). This study provides crucial information needed to design effective strategies for the prevention and control of the parasitic zoonoses.