The Prevalence of Parasitic Infestation of Small Ruminant Farms in Perak, Malaysia - Fazly Ann Zainalabidin,; Nurulaini Raimy,; Muhamad Hazmi Yaacob,; Adnan Musbah,; Premalaatha Bathmanaban,; Erwanas Asmar Ismail,; Zaini Che Mamat,; Zawida Zahari,; Mohd Iswadi Ismail,; Chandrawathani Panchadcharam, (Tropical Life Sciences Research, 2015)
Helminthiasis due to strongyles such as Haemonchus contortus, coccidiosis caused by Eimeria sp. and blood parasite diseases such as theileriosis by Theileria sp. have been reported to cause severe morbidity and mortality annually in small ruminants in Malaysia. The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of helminthiasis, coccidiosis and theileriosis and to determine the packed cell volume (PCV) value of small ruminants in Perak, Malaysia. Blood and faecal samples were obtained from a total of 175 animals from 7 small ruminant farms in Kampar, Larut Matang and Selama, Kuala Kangsar and Manjung districts in Perak; the samples were examined for parasitic infestations from April to July 2011. The results of this study show that H. contortus was found in 152 (86.86%) animals, Eimeria sp. was found in 162 (92.57%) animals and the blood protozoa Theileria sp. was found in 25 (14.30%) animals. The PCV values of all of these animals were recorded between 7% and 44%. A total of 42 (24%) animals were anaemic, with a PCV of less than 21%. Continuous monitoring of small ruminant farms will provide important information for assisting farmers with managing the spread of parasitic infections and maintaining the productivity of animals. Penyakit helmintiasis yang disebabkan oleh cacing seperti Haemonchus contortus, koksidiosis yang disebabkan oleh Eimeria sp. dan infeksi parasit darah seperti penyakit teleriosis yang disebabkan oleh Theileria sp. telah dilaporkan merupakan penyebab kepada kemorbidan dan kematian ternakan ruminan kecil setiap tahun di Malaysia. Tujuan kajian ini dijalankan adalah untuk menentukan penyebaran penyakit helmintiasis, koksidiosis dan teleriosis serta nilai packed cell volume (PCV) ke atas ternakan ruminan kecil di negeri Perak, Malaysia. Sebanyak 175 ekor ternakan ruminan kecil telah digunakan untuk mengambil sampel darah dan tinja daripada 7 buah ladang ternakan ruminan kecil di daerah Kampar, Larut Matang dan Selama, Kuala Kangsar dan Manjung di negeri Perak untuk pemeriksaan infestasi parasit dari bulan April hingga Julai 2011. Hasil kajian menunjukkan H. contortus telah ditemui pada 152 ekor (86.86%) ternakan, Eimeria sp. pada 162 ekor (92.57%) ternakan dan Theileria sp. pada 25 ekor (14.30%) ternakan. PCV pada kesemua ternakan menunjukkan nilai di antara 7% hingga 44%. Secara keseluruhannya 42 ekor (24%) ternakan menunjukkan tanda-tanda mengalami anemia dengan nilai PCV kurang daripada 21%. Pemantauan berterusan ke ladang-ladang ternakan ruminan kecil akan memberikan maklumat yang berguna kepada penternak bagi membantu menguruskan penyebaran infeksi parasit dan mengekalkan produktiviti ternakan.