The prevalence of bovine parasites in various environments within the lowland tropical country of Guyana : a dissertation /
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| Other Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
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[College Station, Tex.] :
[Texas A&M University],
[1975]
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| Subjects: |
| Abstract: | ABSTRACT: The variety and relative abundance of bovine hemo, external and helminth parasites were compared between four ecologically distinct areas of Guyana. The coastal area, the richest agricultural area within the country, contains the highest livestock populations. The cattle for the most part are secondary to crop production on the alluvial soils reclaimed from mangrove swamps. The forested areas of Guyana are a true rain-forest with a four layer tree canopy. Livestock production is being developed in areas cleared of forests. The mid-savannahs are natural brown sand savannahs dominated by Trachypogon plumosus. This grass is unpalatable to cattle for much of the year. The Rupununi is a large savannah with an eight month dry period. The dominant grass in this savannah is also T. plumosus. The following hemoparasites were identified: Trypanosoma vivax in 0.7 per cent of the coastal cattle; Anaplasma marginale in 85 per cent of the cattle with the highest prevalence in the mid-savannahs and the lowest on the coast; the serological prevalence of Babesia bigemina was 31 per cent and Babesia argentina 11 per cent with a lower prevalence in the forested areas. The tropical cattle tick, Boophilus microplus, was found in all areas of the country except at the village of Aishalton in the Repununi. Other species of ticks found parasitizing cattle or in the vicinity of cattle populations were Amblyomma cajennense, Amblyomma triste and Anocentor nitens. Insects identified parasitizing cattle were Haematopinus quadripertusus on the coast; Dermtobia hominis, Cochliomyia hominivorax and Haematobia irritans in the mid-savannahs; and Simulium haematopotum in the Rupununi. The following helminth parasites were identified in Guyana: an apparently undescribed species of Ostertagia from the coast; Haemonchus placei and Haemonchus similis on the coast; H. similis in the Rumpuni; Trichostronglyus axei, Cooperia punctata, Bunostomum phlebotomum, Strongloides papillosis, Toxocara vitulorum, Capillaria bovis, Oesophagostomum radiatum, Trichuris discolor, Dictyocaulus viviparus, Mammomonogamus laryngeus, Onchocerca lienalis, Setaria labiatopapillosa, Stephanofilaria stilesi, Moniezia sp. and Cotylophoron cotylophorum. Parasite profiles compared the coast and Rupununi helminth fauna. Bioclimatographs for the various regions of the country were prepared considering some of the more important genera of helminths and B. microplus. Fasciola and Cysticercus, two helminths expected to be encountered in a country like Guyana, were not found. This study evaluates the factors concerned with the variety and abundance of various parasites considering edaphic, climatic, botanic, zoologic and social conditions which may be involved in their distribution. It was essential to determine what parasites are likely to be of economic importance, and what practices may be used to control these parasites. |
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| Item Description: | Vita. "Major Subject: Veterinary Medical Science". "Submitted to the Graduate College of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy December 1975". |
| Physical Description: | xv, 155 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references. |