Epizootic situation on bovine parasitosis at peasant farm enterprises of the Leningrad and Pskov Regions

The purpose of the research is to analyze an epizootic situation on bovine parasitosis at peasant farm enterprises of the Leningrad and Pskov Regions.

Materials and methods. The study was conducted at the V. L. Yakimov Department of Parasitology at the St. Petersburg State University of Veterinary Medicine. The epizootic situation on infectious diseases was assessed at peasant farm enterprises in the Leningrad and Pskov Regions. A total of 370 cattle aged 6 months to 6 years were examined. To diagnose helminthiasis, fecal samples were collected and analyzed by the Darling method using a universal flotation fluid and the Berman-Orlov method. A helminth genus was determined based on the morphological structure of the eggs and larvae. Ectoparasitosis was diagnosed visually and by examining skin and hair scrapings which were microscoped at ×40 and ×100 magnification. Parasite genera were determined based on morphological characteristics, and the infection prevalence was determined from the number of infected animals to the total population on the farm. The infection intensity was calculated from the number of parasites detected in the infected animals.

Results and discussion. Cattle kept at peasant farm enterprises were infected with Eimeria, nematodes, and stationary ectoparasites such as Acariform mites and chewing lice.  A high percentage of animals were infested with Bovicola bovis on all farms. On a farm in the Luzhsky District, up to 81% of animals were infected with this insect species, and demodicosis was also diagnosed. High infections of Chorioptes bovis mites were observed at peasant farm enterprises in the Lomonosovsky District of the Leningrad Region and the Pskov District of the Pskov Region. On farms in the Lomonosovsky and Pskov Districts, chorioptosis was diagnosed in all cows. On all farms, Eimeria oocysts were found in young animals aged six months to one year. At peasant farm enterprises in the Luzhsky and Pskovsky Districts, the infection rate of animals of this age was 100%. Infection rates decreased with age but the oocyst excretion persisted across all age groups. Neoascaridosis was diagnosed in cows at peasant farm enterprises in the Luzhsky District, and strongyloidosis was diagnosed in cows at peasant farm enterprises in the Lomonosovsky District. These findings indicate the need to revise existing treatment and prevention regimens for infective diseases at peasant farm enterprises.

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