ASCARIDS or ROUNDWORMS
The heavy losses of young buffalo calves throughout the world are caused, in large measure, by the roundworm Toxocara vitulorum. Common symptoms are diarrhea (or alternating diarrhea and constipation), dehydration, dullness, weakness, coma and death. Infection may be prenatal or through the ingestion of larvae in colostrum or milk. Large masses of worms in the bile ducts and abomasum and intestinal perforations have been observed (7a). According to some observers, (7b) infestation is prenatal and worms are seldom observed in calves over 240 days of age. The major cause of buffalo calf mortality in Bangladesh is . Presence of larvae in milk is very common and the route of infection may be thru direct transfer from cow to calf (7c). The dam plays the role of intermediate host in this case. In India post mortem study of 500 buffalo calves under 6 months of age showed that one third harbored adult roundworms (7d). Although huge numbers of calves die each year, anthelmintic drugs that control the roundworms are highly effective and widely available.
BABESIOSIS
A febrile condition caused by the blood protozoan has been reported in Nepal and India (7e). Heavy tick infestations with Boophilus microplus and Hyalomma anatolicum was suspected to be involved in the transmission of this disease. Infections of Babesia argentina and B. bigemini have been reported in feral buffaloes (7f).
COCCIDIOSIS
Parasitic diarrhea and dysentery in young buffalo calves is quite common. A large number of Eimeria sp have been reported (7g). In feedlot situations where the larger nematodes and flukes are regularly treated this parasite can become a major cause of calf mortality (7h).
CUTANEOUS FILARIASIS
This disease is caused by Parafilaria bovicola in cattle and characterized by cutaneous hemorrhages is very common in parts of India and Nepal. Sporadic incidences of filarial cutaneous lesions have been observed in buffalo.
CUTANEOUS ONCHOCERCIASIS
Cutaneous lesions in the dermis, mostly confined to the xiphoid region as a result of Onchocerca sp. has been reported from Australia and east Asia (7i). These are commonly associated with heavy biting fly infestations and in Nepal are commonly associated with culicoides or "warbles". A species of culicoides has been found capable of spreading Onchocerca sp infection in buffaloes (7j).
ECHINOCOCCOSIS
Hydatid cysts of Echinococcus granulosum has been reported from almost every part of the buffalo body. Very high incidence has been reported from India and Nepal(7k)... probably as a result of their system of butchering animals in open areas and feeding the scraps and hydatid cysts to the local dogs. Slaughterhouse studies have shown infestation rates of 50% to 75% (7l). Urbanization and the raising of buffaloes in semi confinement has also contributed to the severity of the problem . Low incidence rates of 2% were reported in Swamp buffaloes in rural areas (7m).
ECTOPARASITES
The wallow and it's resulting mud pack seems to protect water buffalo from many biting flies, but the main ectoparasites in Australia and Southeast Asia is the buffalo fly (Siphona sp.). Lice, ticks and mites infest buffaloes mostly during the winter season when farmers are by and large reluctant to take their animals for wallowing or to wash them at home. Flies and mosquitoes are a great nuisance for buffaloes during hot and humid weather. Pediculosis, caused by the sucking louse (Hematopinus tuberculatus), occurs widely among buffalo (7n). Lice and their eggs multiply largely during the winter season and it is not uncommon to see the hairs of buffaloes full of the eggs (7p). Shearing is the easiest and most economical method of control. Used motor oil is not recommended.
EYE PARASITES
Several species of moths feed on the lacrimal secretions of buffaloes at night. They also suck blood and may be involved in the transmission of many infectious diseases (7q). Conjunctivitis caused by Thelazia sp. is very common in buffaloes. The incidence of infection varied from 35% to 45% in various studies (7r). High incidence occurs during the rainy season. These parasites will cause conjunctival abscesses in many cases partial blindness, corneal opacity and lost or damaged eyeballs are commonly seen in Asian buffalo.
FILARIAL NEMATODES
Several types have been reported.
FLUKES-HEPATIC
During wallowing, water buffaloes can easily become infected with the waterborne infective stage of liver flukes ...usually Fasciola hepaticaor F. gigantica. They are very common in adult buffaloes. Snails of Lymnaea sp. are the vectors. In Nepal these are by far the most common parasite of adult buffaloes and caused high chronic losses and not a few acute deaths. Oral medication with carbon-tetrachloride (CTC) is the most common method of treatment in Nepal. In well fed animals, few clinical signs of the infestation are usually evident. It seems likely that the resulting liver damage reduces the growth and the work and milk production of buffaloes more than is generally appreciated.
FLUKES-INTESTINAL
Intestinal flukes commonly infest the complex stomach system of buffaloes. The incidence of GI parasitism is much higher in buffaloes than in cattle of the same area. This is mainly due to the high affinity of buffaloes for water and swampy areas. Adult flukes inhabit the rumenoreticulum. Larval stages live mostly in the duodenal region of the small intestine and can cause enteritis characterized by diarrhea and dysentry. The common flukes of buffaloes are Paramphistomum sp., Cotylophoron cotylophorum,Calicophoron sp., Olveria sp. and Ceylonocotyle sp.. Fluke infestations (intestinal and hepatic) are the most common cause of both acute and chronic losses in adult water buffalo (7s). Immature stages of biliary leach Gigantocotyle explanatum develop in the upper part of the intestine and cause losses in calves (7t).
LEECHES
Leeches are very common in India and Nepal...natural water, paddy and wet monsoon forest are usually heavily infested. They attach themselves to the body of animals and humans while working in the paddy or walking through the forested areas. Land or forest leeches require only the moisture of monsoon rain or damp forest to become active. Some species live in trees and drop onto their hosts as the pass. Leeches feed solely on the blood of hosts and suck blood to many fold increase their size. They then detach and fall off. Single feedings may be sufficient for many days ...or even months. Blood loss caused by sucking and subsequent hemorrhage due to the anti-coagulant nature of the bite can leave animals weak and anemic. Occasionally leeches enter and attach within the nasal cavity or pharyngeal mucosa.In the Himalayan area the leach is by far the most common external parasite of buffalo and people. Chickens are the most practical method of control. Birds will wait at the trail side for buffalo to return from pasture and will then, with great excitement, pick leeches off the buffalo's legs, backs and ears. Leaches have been suspected of transferring the FMD virus.
LUNGWORM
Infestation of the respiratory tract of buffaloes by Dictyocaulus viviparus has been reported from tropical and sub-tropical areas. A few outbreaks of parasitic bronchitis have been reported in the buffaloes of Italy and Egypt (7u). In Egypt, disease was observed at the end of the clover grazing period and characterized by irratitive bronchitis associated with the adult worms. In Italian buffaloes both irritative and allergic conditions have been observed (7v). Incidence of D. vivparus infestation in buffalo calves causing death in about 60% of infected animals has been reported (7w).
MANGE
Occurrences of all three types of mange, sarcoptic (Sarcoptes scabiei var. bubalus), psoroptic(Psoroptes natalensis), and demodectic (Demodax bovis) has been reported (7x). Young calves are more susceptible and often deaths can result. Lack of cleanliness, environmental stress and climatic conditions all encourage the spread of these parasites.
SARCOSPORIDIOSIS
The cysts are present in the muscles and in various organs. Infections in dogs have been identified through observation of oocysts in their feces after feeding infected diaphragm muscle of buffaloes. The dog ...and possibly the cat are suggested as probable hosts.
SCHISTOSOMIASIS
These are a blood flukes of the Schistosoma sp. At least 4 species have been identified (7y). They can cause enteritis in young buffalo calves below 2 years of age. One species Schistosoma nasale inhabits the blood vessels of the nasal mucosa. The condition is diagnosed by the presence of eggs in the nasal discharge. The intermediate host has been reported to be a species of fresh water snail. Infection by the cercariae takes place when the buffaloes drink and eggs appear in the nasal discharge about 90 days later. . Granulomatous nodules are sometimes formed on the nasal mucosa. Trauma caused by irritation and sneezing will sometimes cause dramatic nasal bleeding.
SCREWWORM
Larva of the screwworm fly (Callitroga sp.), a major pest of livestock in Central and South America and some other tropical areas, do not affect adult water buffalo. In Venezuelan areas where cattle (Zebu type) are severely infested, adult water buffalo are virtually free of screwworm larvae and the umbilicus of newborn calves seldom if ever becomes infected(10). The same is true in Papua New Guinea(11). It is thought that the mud plaster produced by wallowing suffocates the larvae, but in India screwworms do not affect buffaloes either, and there they wallow in fairly clear water and the farmer usually washes them off(12).
STRONGYLOIDS
The adult water buffalo appears to have a high degree of resistance to strongyloid nematodes. Being such excellent converters of rough forage fodders they do not suffer the nutritional deficiencies and the resulting liability to these nematodes experienced seasonally by cattle. However, occurrence in young buffalo calves is quite common...estimated at an incidence of 15% as compared to roundworms at 33%. Heavy infestations will produce nodular duodenal lesions and diarrhea but usually their effect is masked by other parasites.
SYNGAMUS
Infection of Syngamus laryngeus in buffaloes and cattle of tropical countries is very common.
TAPEWORMS
Tapes have been reported at a incidence of 15% in some situations ..usually Moniezia sp(7z) ..
THEILERIOSIS
Buffaloes suffer from theileriosis. It may also occur in sub-clinical form. Several infectious species have been isolated in India (7za) and Australia (7zb).
TICKS
Buffaloes are notably resistant, although not immune, to ticks. In a tick infested area of northern Australia only 2 engorged female ticks were found on 13 adult buffaloes during a 2-year test(8). Accordingly, healthy buffaloes are not commonly affected by diseases borne by ticks nor are the hides damaged by their bites. Since ticks are rarely found on buffaloes in the field, anaplasmosis, theileriasis and babesiosis which are tick-borne, are not often seen . ( Buffaloes and cattle are equally susceptible, however, if inoculated with East Coast fever, a form of theileriasis). This is important because tick infestations in cattle are particularly troublesome in the tropics and the pesticides used to control them are becoming ineffective as the ticks develop resistance. The pesticides are also becoming expensive. The basis of the buffalo's tick resistance is not known, but wallowing and rubbing may play a role in it; animals kept in experimental pens in Australia have developed heavy tick infestations(9).
TRYPANOSOMIASIS
Called Surra in many parts of the world.The water buffalo is susceptible to trypanosomiasis and is reportedly more susceptible than cattle to Trypanosoma evansi. Experience with the animal in Africa is limited, but trypanosomiasis may be the reason why Egypt is the only African country that has traditionally employed water buffaloes. Characterized by fever, congestion and weakness in the acute form ...but sub clinical infection is more common . For differential diagnosis from other similar diseases or for health evaluations blood smears should be examined.
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david j. ligda
djligda@netnitco.net
Last Updated:Monday, February 16, 1998 8:10:29 PM