Epidemiological studies were conducted on Fasciola giagntica infection in different geo-climatic zones (hills, tarai and plains) in six states of north India during January 2001 to December 2004. Prevalence rates of 10.79, 13.90, 2.78 and 2.35 percent were recorded in cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats, respectively. Animals in the tarai had the highest prevalence of fasciolosis followed by those in the hills and plains, respectively. The prevalence of infection in cattle and buffaloes was highest during the winters (11.84% cattle, 15.57% buffaloes) followed by summers and rains, respectively. However, the seasonal trends in sheep and goats were the reverse, with the peak prevalence during the rains (4.60% sheep, 2.71% goats). Abattoir studies revealed a higher prevalence in buffaloes (31.14%) than in sheep and goats. Screening of Lymnaea auricularia snails revealed that 5.48% of the snails harboured larval stages of F. gigantica. Also, the snails in the tarai had a higher prevalence (7.28%) of infection compared to those in the plains (1.57%). The results of the present study may help to devise an effective control strategy against fasciolosis in north India.

The present work was aimed to investigate helminth biodiversity among rodents in order to evaluate the threat for helminth transmission to humans since they act as a potential source of parasitic zoonoses. In this study, faeces of 43 black rats (Rattus rattus) and 35 house mice (Mus musculus) were collected from various habitats viz. domestic places and agricultural fields of different parts of tarai region of Uttarakhand. These faecal samples were examined for the presence of parasitic eggs, adult and segments of the worms. The study revealed that the rodents were infected with 5 genera of helminth parasites, i.e. Hymenolepis nana, Hymenolepis diminuta, Syphacia muris, Capillaria hepatica, Trichuris muris and other strongyle eggs (2 species of cestodes and 4 species of nematodes). Adult Syphacia muris and segments of Hymenolepis nana were also recovered from faecal droppings. Of the 43 samples of black rat, all (100 %) and of the 35 samples of mice 9 (25.71 %) were found positive for one or more than one species of parasitic infections. Greater infection of H. diminuta 19 (44.18 %) followed by H. nana 17 (39.53 %) was seen in rat whereas mice were mostly infected with H. nana. The diversity and prevalence of various parasites reported here within domestic habitats may suggest that these can pose a high risk of helminth transmission to human population and are thus of considerable public health importance.

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An allele-specific PCR was standardized to diagnose the mutation (Phe to Try) at residue 200 of the isotype 1 beta tubulin gene responsible for benzimidazole resistance in Haemonchus contortus adult and infective larvae. Adult and infective larvae of Haemonchus contortus were collected from sheep under different managemental practices (intensive and extensive) in temperate Himalayan regions (Mukteshwar and Kedarkhatta), sub-himalayan region (Pantnagar) of Uttarakhand state and subtropical region of Uttar Pradesh (Bareilly) in north-west India. Genotyping of adult H. contortus, collected from abomasi of slaughtered sheep reared under extensive management, by AS-PCR revealed that the frequency of resistant (r) alleles was significantly higher (P < 0.001) at Pantnagar (0.57) as compared to Bareilly (0.25) and Mukteshwar (0.08). Also, genotyping of infective larvae of the parasite from intensively managed sheep farms indicated that the frequency of resistant (r) alleles was significantly higher (P < 0.001) at Pantnagar (0.85) as compared to Kedarkattha (0.70) and Bareilly (0.62). The results revealed that managemental practices followed in the areas under study have a direct bearing on the spread of benzimidazole resistant alleles.