Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Calves Raised with Cattle in Smallholder Farming System in the Northwest of Iran

The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitic infection in buffalo calves in Northwest of Iran. Fecal samples of 317 buffalo calves under 9 months of age (155 male and 162 female) were collected from villages around Urmia, Northwest of Iran. Centrifugal flotation technique using saturated zinc sulphate solution and sedimentation methods was used to detect protozoa and helminthes infections. The modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique was used for determining Cryptosporidium spp., infection. Eight Eimeria species oocysts were identified in 112 (35.3%) out of the 317 buffalo calves. Eimeria zuernii had the highest prevalence (23.3 %) followed by E. bovis (15.1%), E. ellipsoidalis (7.3%), E. bareillyi (2.5%), E. bukidnonensis (2.2%), E. ovoidalis (1.3%), E. cylindrical (0.9%), E. auburnensis (0.6%). No cysts of Giardia spp. were detected. The oocysts of Cryptosporidium spp. were detected in 8 (2.5%) buffalo calves. Twenty-three buffalo calves (7.3%) were positive for Toxocara vitulorum eggs. No clinical finding was observed in infected buffalo. In conclusion, Eimeria spp., Cryptosporidium spp and T. vitulorum are relatively common in buffalo calves and buffalo should be considered as a potential source of infection to other animal species.