Considering the economic impact of various ticks species on livestock, the present study was conducted for epidemiological characterize of common ticks infesting Indian zebu cattle between July 2010 and June 2011 period at various locations of Mathura region of India. A total of 2,515 zebu cattle were examined on random basis throughout the year. The overall prevalence of ticks infestation in cattle was 60.07 %. The highest prevalence was reported in September (75 %) while the lowest was in January (46.07 %). On seasonal investigation highest tick infestation was found in rainy season (69.46 %), followed by summer (62.55 %) while lowest in the winter (47.96 %). Overall highest percentage of tick infestations was noticed in the group I animals of less than 1 year age (80.21 %) followed by group II animals of age between 1 and 3 years (68.48 %) and lowest in group III animals of age greater than 3 years (44.85 %). On the basis of morphological studies, two species of ticks were identified namely Boophilus microplus and Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum. The most common feeding sites for adult ticks were neck, axilla, belly, groin, udder, perineal regions and tail.

A survey was made to determine the prevalence of endoparasites in free range blue peacocks living in and around the premises of College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Mathura. Faecal samples of peacocks were collected randomly and brought to the divisional laboratory for faecal sample examination. During the coprological examination, eggs and oocysts of cestodes and coccidia belonging to Eimeria and Isospora species were identified, respectively based on the morphology and micrometry of these parasitic stages. The present study has generated an important data regarding the else while parasitologically neglected national bird of India.

The objective of this study was to investigate, through cross-sectional survey, the distribution, types and prevalence of gastro-intestinal parasites affecting stray dogs in and around Mathura, India. Freshly voided faecal samples of 108 identified, stray, non descript dogs of either sex and different age groups were collected and examined for coprological examination by direct faecal smear method; simple flotation and sedimentation techniques to detect parasitic oocysts and/or eggs. A total of 96 samples (88.9 %) were found positive for helminthic eggs (nematodes and cestodes) while 16 (14.2 %) were found to be positive for protozoan infections with a overall parasitic prevalence of 98 (90.7 %). Single parasite infections (72.2 %) were more common than two or more infections (27.8 %). The data on the distribution of the various worm species in the positive dogs indicate that Ancylostoma caninum eggs were by far the most common (55.6 %). The other detected worm egg species and their respective frequencies were: Toxocara canis (51.9 %), Dypilidium caninim (50.0 %), Taenids (33.3 %), Toxocara leonina (25.9 %), Diphylobothrium latum (5.6 %), Spirocerca lupi (3.7 %) and Physaloptera canis (3.7 %). Eimeria canis oocysts were detected in eight samples (7.4 %) besides, total coccidian oocysts in 16 samples (14.8 %). The prevalence of helminth eggs was higher in puppies compared to adults. The prevalence of different species of helminths also varied in different age groups. The high prevalence of gastro-intestinal helminth parasites of zoonotic potential registered in the dogs indicates a potential risk to human health. The public health significance of the encountered parasitic infections is described and the prevalence is compared with the surrounding areas.

Caanine monocytic ehrlichiosis caused by Ehrlichia canis has gained wider significance owing to its potential to inflict significant deleterious effect on the health of companion animals. In the present study, 46 confirmed ehrlichiosis positive dogs were evaluated for the alterations in clinical, haematological and biochemical attributes. Depression, anorexia, pyrexia, anaemia, weakness, jaundice, melana, vomition and diarrhoea were the main clinical symptoms onserved. Haematological alterations included pancytopenia especially thrombocytopenia. Significant changes were noticed in WBC, RBC, Hgb, McHc, Platelets, ALT values while rest all the studied haematological and biochemical parameters showed non-significant alterations within normal range in comparison to normal healthy controls. The findings substantiate that ehrlichiosis cause significant clinical, haematological and biochemical alterations of the varied intensity in dogs, even with lower grades of parasitaemia.

Trypanosomosis and bovine tropical theileriosis are important vector-borne protozoan diseases imposing some of the serious constraints on the health and productivity of domestic cattle in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Following recovery from primary infection of both these conditions, animals become persistent carriers and act as reservoirs of infection thereby playing a critical role in disease epidemiology. The present study describes development and evaluation of duplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for simultaneous detection of Trypanosoma evansi and Theileria annulata in buffaloes. Following in silico screening for candidate target genes representing each of the pathogens, an optimized duplex PCR assay was established using TBR F/R and TAMS F/R as primer sets encoding for products of 164 and 721 bp for T. evansi and T. annulata, respectively. The results were compared and correlated with conventional Giemsa-stained thin blood smear examination and the single PCR assay. The duplex PCR detected each pathogen with the same level of sensitivity, irrespective of whether its DNA was amplified in isolation or together with DNA of another pathogen. Moreover, single and duplex PCRs were able to detect each species with equal sensitivity in serially diluted DNA representing mixtures of T. evansi and T. annulata, and no evidence of nonspecific amplification from nontarget species was observed. The developed assay may be seen as a good tool for epidemiological studies aiming at assessing the burden of dual infections and improving control of the associated diseases in endemic regions.