Prevalence of Balantidiasis of Red Chittagong Cattle and its comparison to Crossbreds in different areas of Chittagong

Abstract

Balantidium coli is one of the protozoa under the phylum Ciliophora. Balantidium spp. are known only as commensals or parasites found in the intestinal tract of various animal species; none is free-living. The trophic B. coli is covered with uniformly arranged rows of cilia propelling it through the viscous mass of undigested food and bacteria passing through the colon. Balantidiosis or ciliate dysentery clinically manifests diarrhea or dysentery, characterized by severe colic, tenesmus, anorexia and occasionally nausea, vomiting. Balantidium coli infection has been reported in crossbred cattle, ongole cattle, buffalo, camel, chimpanzee and dog. The infection occurs by ingestion of cysts or trophozoites . Balantidiosis is encountered worldwide, but infection rate is more common in tropical and subtropical regions. The objective of the study was to determine the incidence of invasion of Balantidium coli in Red Chittagong (RC) cattle and exotic cross breeds in Chittagong metropolitan area, Patiya thana, Anoara thana and Raujan thana. Study was conducted over a total 120 cattle. Out of 120, local RC cattle were 90 in number and rest of were exotic crossbred cattle. The study was conducted from 12th September,2009 to 15th November. The study reveals that B. coli is more susceptible to RC cattle (25.5%) in comparison to crossbred cattle. In the study it shows that Anoara was more susceptible to others area