Tick-borne diseases are considered a major hindrance to the health and productive performance of cattle in Bangladesh. To elucidate the epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in local cattle, a cross-sectional study was performed in the 12 subdistricts (Upazilas) of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh. Blood samples and ticks were collected from 384 clinically healthy cattle kept by 135 farmers from 96 randomly selected villages. DNA extracted from the blood samples was subsequently screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and a Reverse Line Blot (RLB) hybridization assay using an in-house prepared chemiluminescence solution for the presence of Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, Babesia and Theileria spp. A total of 2,287 ticks were collected from 232 infested cattle (60.4%, 232/384) and identified morphologically as Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (n = 1,432, 62.6%) and Haemaphysalis bispinosa (n = 855; 37.4%). The RLB results demonstrated that the majority of the cattle (62.2%) were infected with at least one TBP. Theileria orientalis infections were most common (212/384, 55.2%) followed by infections with Anaplasma bovis (137/384, 35.67%), Anaplasma marginale (16/384, 4.17%), Babesia bigemina (4/384, 1.04%) and Babesia bovis (2/384, 0.52%). A previously uncharacterized Anaplasma sp. (Anaplasma sp. Mymensingh) and Babesia sp. (Babesia sp. Mymensingh), which are genetically closely related to Anaplasma platys and B. bigemina, were detected in 50 of 384 (13.0%) and 1 of 384 (0.3%) of the blood samples, respectively. Key risk factors for the occurrence of T. orientalis, A. marginale and Anaplasma sp. Mymensingh were identified. In conclusion, this study revealed that cattle in Mymensingh district are mainly infested with R. microplus and H. bispinosa ticks and may carry multiple TBPs. In addition, two previously uncharacterized pathogens were detected in the bovine blood samples. The pathogenicity of these species remains to be determined.

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Prevalence of helminths of sheep in relation to age, sex, nutritional status, management system and flock size was studied at Tangail district, Bangladesh from July to December 2010 by fecal examination. A total of 190 sheep were examined of which 154 (81.1%) were positive for one or more species of helminth parasites. Seven species of helminths were identified, of them three species were trematodes, namely, Fasciola gigantica (8.4%), Paramphistomum spp. (44.2%) and Schistosoma indicum (3.7%); four species were nematodes, namely, Bunostomum sp (19.0%), Trichuris spp. (2.1%), Strongyles (62.6%) and Strongyloides spp. (9.5%). No cestodes were identified. Prevalence of helminths was significantly (p<0.01) higher in young sheep aged >1-2 year (92.7%) than adult aged > 2 years (83.3%) and lamb aged ≤ 1 year (63.6%). Higher prevalence was recorded in female than in male sheep. In relation to nutritional status and flock size, prevalence of helminths were significantly (p<0.01) higher in poor health and large flock sized animals. It is suggested that helminth infection is widely prevalent in sheep in Tangail district of Bangladesh.

Different species of vector snails carry larval stages of different trematodes. Studies were performed to investigate different snail species and parthinate of trematodes carried by them, in some selected areas of Mymensingh Sadar, Mymensingh. Snails were collected by hand picking method and examined after crushing. Among 864 tested snails, it revealed the presence of six species of snails like Lymnaea auricularia 145 (16.8%), Lymnaea luteola 205 (23.7%), Indoplanorbis exustus 273 (31.6%), Vivipara spp. 164 (18.9%), Brotia spp. 35 (4.1%) and Pila spp. 42 (4.8%) in the study areas. Among them 5.8% L. luteola and 6.2% L. auricularia were infected with gymnacephalus cercariae. Again, 1.4% L. auricularia and 1.8% I. exustus were infected with echinostome cercaria. In this study, 1.8% Vivipara spp. and 2.6% I. exustus were positive for furcocercus cercaria. On the other hand, 1.8% Vivipara spp. was positive for xiphidocercus cercariae and 1.8% I. exustus was also positive for amphistome cercariae. One or more species of snails were found to harbor single or mixed types of cercariae such as gymnacepahlus, echinostome and furcocercous. Population densities of different species of snails were determined in per unit time which were statistically significant (p<0.01). More studies are needed to focus on the determination of different vector snails and cercariae carried by them throughout the Bangladesh especially from plain lands, hilly areas, alluvial lands and coastal areas during four conventional seasons.

Balantidium coli is a common protozoan disease of animals. A total of 151 buffaloes were examined through faecal examination, of which 68 (45.03%) found to be infected with B. coli infection. Prevalence of B. coli infection was relatively higher in adult buffaloes (49.52%) aged > 5 years than young (39.29%) aged > 2-≤ 5 years and buffalo calves (27.78%) aged ≤ 2 years. Higher prevalence of B. coli was observed in female (47.32%) than that of male (38.46%) buffaloes which are not statistically significant. Prevalence of B. coli infection was significantly (p<0.01) higher in poor health buffaloes (78.95%) than healthy buffaloes (24.47%) and buffaloes reared in normal floor/muddy floor (46.21%) than that reared in concrete floor (36.84%), respectively. Significantly (p<0.05) higher prevalence of B. coli infection was observed in rainy season (60%) followed by summer (42.10%) and winter season (32.76%). It is concluded that buffaloes are highly susceptible to balantidiasis irrespective of age, sex, health status, management system and seasons of the year.

This study was designed to investigate the prevalence and pathology of mite infestation in the street dog at Dinajpur municipality area, Dinajpur, Bangladesh, during June to September, 2010 using simultaneous clinical and histopathological examination and identification. A total of 48 street dogs (27 male and 21 female) were examined, among them 30(62.5%) were infested with one or more species of mites. Two species of mites were identified as Sarcoptes scabiei var.canis and Demodex canis. The range of mites burden was 1-5 per square inch of heavily infested area. Mean mites burden was high in case of Sarcoptes scabiei var.canis (1.5±0.2) followed by Demodex canis (0.6±0.1). Prevalence was higher in the dog of 1-2 years of age (68.9%) than in the dog of >2-4 years of age (52.6%). Infestation of mite was significantly (p<0.05) higher in male (66.6%) than female (57.1%) dog. Mite infestation was more prevalent in the poor healthy dog (75.7%) than the normal healthy dog (33.3%). Prevalence of mites infestation was significantly (p<0.05) higher in back region (68.1%) followed by face and neck (66.6%) and abdomen (58.3%) and lowest in thigh and groin (40.0%). Grossly, alopecia, rough, dry leathery and corrugation of skin, erythema, pastules, crusts and pruritus were found. Microscopically, it was characterized by acanthosis, slight hyperkeratosis, formation of hyperplastic rete-pegs, destruction of dermis and epidermis, hyperplastic changes in sweat glands, sebaceous glands and hair follicular cells, pyogranuloma in papillary layer and hair follicles and infiltration of neutrophils, oeosinophils, lymphocytes and few macrophages. The results indicate that street dogs of Dinajpur municipality area are very much susceptible to mite infestation. The mite produces clinico- pathological effects on dog, which may be the serious threat to public health. Keywords: Prevalence; Pathology; Mite infestation; Street dogs DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbau.v9i1.8753 JBAU 2011; 9(1): 111-119

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The study was conducted to investigate the existing status and practices of jute cultivation. A total of 100 farmers were interviewed by using a structured interview schedule from two villages (Damor and Nathpara) of Kishoregonj sadar upazila of Kishoregonj district at their houses and/or farm sites during April to June 2014. The study confirmed that most farmers have improved their socio-economic conditions through jute cultivation. The impact analysis of jute cultivation on livelihood of jute farmers shows that overall 61% jute farmers have increased overall livelihood from jute cultivation during the last four years (2011-2014). Deshi variety of jute has been widely grown across the region due to its wider adaptability and quality fiber. Jute area has been increased and some rice field has been replaced by jute due to its high demand in country. In addition, farmers are motivated to cultivate jute. But study revealed that productivity ranged from 750 kg to 1022 kg per hectare that are lower than other jute growing areas of Bangladesh. Average cost of production of fiber was estimated at Tk 15/kg. The study indicates that the maximum production cost has involved in fiber extraction (20%) and weeding (20%). The study also revealed that lack of quality seed, high cost of jute production, lack of training facilities, inadequate credit facilities, high disease infestation, high price of inputs, unstable jute price, shortage of labor at peak period, lack of retting water and weed problem were the main constraints in jute production and processing. For the sustain of jute cultivation in the study area, it would be better to provide subsidies on seeds and fertilizer to jute farmers thereby profit margin becomes high and will encourage growers in producing more raw jute within the country for the fulfillment of raw jute requirement of local jute industries. Cost effective technologies have to be developed in jute production and processing aspects for lowering the production cost and increasing the profit margin.Progress. Agric. 2014. 25: 38-46