Dr. Murai Éva szerk.: Parasitologia Hungarica 21. (Budapest, 1988)

Parasit, hung. 21. 1988 On the prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes of cattle in Hungary Dr. Péter REDL—

Dr. Ferenc HOLLÓ-Dr. Viktor BRAUSWETTER* Department of General Zoology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary Science, Budapest, Hungary "On the prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes of cattle in Hungary" - Redl, P. - Holló, F. - Brauswetter, V. - Parasit, hung., 2U_ 71-83. 1988. ABSTRACT. Laboratory examination of gastrointestinal contents of 58 previously grazed cattle, originating from 5 counties, was carried out to study the gastrointestinal helminth fauna of the cattle stock in Hungary. In the 55 infected cattle, 11 helminth species were found: Ostertagia ostertagi (91.3%), Gross- piculagia podjapolskyi (55. 1 %), Cooperia punctata (51.7 %), Trichostrongylus axei (48. 2 %), Haemonchus contortus (46. 5 %), Cooperia oncophora (36.2%), Nematodirus helvetianus (10. 3 %), Bunostomum phlebotomum (8. 6 %), Tricho strongylus colubriformis (5. 1 %), Ostertagia circumcincta (1. 7 %), Chabertia ovina (1. 7 %). The average of total worm count was 10 59 indicating a mild subclinical infection. Further 31 bovine abomasa were examined by ' conventional (décantation) and by enzyme digestion methods. Of these 16 (51 %) contained trichostrongylid worms. The average worm count of the infected specimens was 2250. In 15 specimens larvae of histotropic phase could be demonstrated by enzyme digestion. The average number of larvae was 332 in the infected specimens: 31.1% of larvae were demonstrated in the décantâtes, while 68.9 % of them in the digested mucosa of the wall of abomasum. Quantitative faecal examination of 1158 cattle (344 cows, 42 bulls, 170 calves, 410 heifers, 92 fattening bulls and 100 fattening heifers), originating from 18 farms, was carried out. Eggs of gastrointestinal helminths were demonstrated by a single examination in 69.9% of specimens. The percentage of infected animals and the number of eggs per gram faeces (EPG) was lower in the cow and bull stocks. Higher values were found in younger animals: the proportion of positive animals was 85 to 94 %. However the EPG values also proved to be very low (137 to 198) in these animals. KEY WORDS: gastrointestinal nematodes, cattle, subclinical parasitic gastroenteritis, prevalence, post-mortem investigation, coprological investigation, Hungary The importance of cattle production for the national economy gives sufficient motives for investigating the factors which may influence the profitability of the branch. All factors impairing profitability should be eliminated. Pasture-based managemental systems and intenAt the time of the studies a veterinary student preparing his thesis work.