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Papers from the 8th World Water Buffalo Congress:

Bastianetto, E.^{1; Cerqueira Leite, R. 2}

1 Doctoral student in Animal Science at Veterinary Medicine School, Federal University of Minas Gerais. 2 Titular Professor at the Veterinary Medicine School, Federal University of Minas Gerais.

Buffaloes are susceptible to a major part of the already described parasites which infect bovines besides those buffalo-specific ones such as Haematopinus tuberculatus, Paracooperia nodulosa and Eimeria bareillyi. The knowledge of the epidemiological features and pathogenesis of each parasite is absolutely necessary to set up parasitic control programs effectively working on water buffalo cattle worldwide. The control propositions to be presented here considered the physiological characteristics of the water buffalo species such as the reproductive seasonality, surrounding thermal conditions and handling.

Keys Word: epidemiological – buffaloes – parasitic – disease

• Ectoparasites

Louse Haematopinus tuberculatus (Anoplura: Haematopinidae) is host-specific to water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) and is the main ectoparasite of the species8 . The entire life cycle of this louse is developed in the body of buffaloes; long surviving periods of the H. tuberculatus in environmental conditions are not reported. The major biological parameters of the species are presented in (Table 1)

Table 1: Life cycle of louse H. tuberculatus in host

Male/female ratio 3/1

Mean incubation period 10 to 16 days

Nymph eclosion 53, 9 %

Phase: nymph 1, nymph 2 and nymph 3 (adult form) 4 days

Pre-egg deposition period 2, 7 days

Egg deposition period 19, 7 days

Complete cycle 21 to 27 days

Chaudri (1960)

The presence of lice in animals causes intense itching and blood spoliation, the former being the main cause of animal productivity decrease. The parasited buffalo has its resting, feeding and reproduction natural habits changed, continually scratching itself against tree trunks, walls, fences and water troughs.

Its control is mandatory in buffalo raising. Veneziano and colleagues´ work in Italy (2004) proved the influence of the treatment on milk production as a statistically significant difference (P< 0,05) was found. The group of animals treated not infected by lice presented higher milk production with decreased protein content, same fat content and higher ingestion of food as compared to the still infected group.

To control lice in buffaloes, phosphate-based products, piretroids and mixed formulae of these molecules in their emulsionable concentrate versions were used for many years. Currently, injectable and spot-on formulations prevail for their efficacy and practicability.

Doramectin, ivermectin and abamectin molecules belonging to the macrocyclic lactones group are proven to be very efficient against the H.tuberculatus1. They act on chloride ion (Cl+) channels interfering with the action of GABA (gamma- Aminobutyric acid) neurotransmitters causing paralysis and death of susceptible parasites. However, antiparasitics with the mentioned molecules must not be administered to nursing animals for they are excreted in milk for a long period. Alternatively, eprinomectin also belongs to the macrocyclic lactones group but may be administered to nursing animals for it is not excreted in milk as the other molecules of the same group.

The efficacy of eprinomectin reached 99, 8% on the seventh day of treatment, and 100% from the 14th to the 56th day after treatment1.

The other antiparasitic and insecticide drugs are efficient in the H.tuberculatus control, and the resistance of the parasite to any kind of drug has not been reported so far.

Meat producing animals, calves, young bulls, heifers and dry female buffaloes:

• Treat the entire herd on the same day or on short interval

• Use a product belonging to the macrocyclic lactones group

• Doramectin 1%, Ivermectin 1% or Abamectin 1% by SC route, 1ml for every 50 kg of live weight (200 mcg/kg lw)

• Eprinomectin pour-on, 1 ml for every 10 kg live weight

• Calves weighing less than 100 kg must not be treated with Abamectin

• By law, these medicines cannot be administered to nursing female buffaloes due to their large excretion in milk. The deficit period of the different molecules must be observed for meat consumption.

• Treat the entire herd on the same day or on short interval

• Baths: three by aspersion, the first on the same day of treatment as the other categories, and the remaining ones within 15-day intervals aiming at breaking louse natural cycle and strongly decreasing its population in herd.

• Use organophosphate insecticides, piretroids, or the combination of both following the manufacturer´s indicated dilution and a minimal volume of 5 liters of solution per animal.

• Correctly dilute the product and apply on animal´s entire body, specially observing tail, ears, neck and between back limbs where lice are commonly concentrated.

• Apply the insecticide during coolest hours of day (mornings and dusk) to decrease skin irritation and prevent animals from entering water locations to relief body heat which would result in dilution of product and its consequent insufficient effect on lice.

Parasited or not parasited animals to be introduced in herds should be treated and submitted to quarantine, an essential period to avoid the reintroduction of this parasitosis in herds. H.tuberculatus control should be made in all animals of the herd in one single day or during a short period with medicine suited to every animal category already mentioned. The absence of residues in milk and dairy products is a necessary condition for the safety of human feeding and must be considered for this planning.

• Coccidae

In water buffaloes, eimeriosis is generally asymptomatic but can manifest itself through intestinal alterations followed by diarrhea with mucus or blood, dehydration, hair on end, low food conversion, anaemia, weakness and loss of weight2, 8.

Bastianetto et al. (2009) verified that animals infected by Eimeria sp. presented lower serum potassium concentration as compared to not infected animals. Potassium loss is normally linked to gastrointestinal lesions causing intracellular liquid reduction, affecting membrane potential and interfering with the action of intracellular enzymes dependant on potassium such as sintetasis, oxidoreductase, dehydrogenase, transferase and kinase.

Species Eimeria alabamensis, E. alburnensis, E. barellyi, E. bovis, E. brasiliensis, E. bukidonensis, E. canadensis, E. cylindrica, E. ellipsoidalis, E. subspherica, E. wyomingensis and E. zurnii have been described in water buffaloes. Except for E.imeria bareillyi, all the other species are common in bovines and water buffaloes2, 6. The attempt at experimental infection by E. bareillyi in bovines failed9.

Nalbantoglu (2008), in Turkey, diagnosed a high percentual (75% n=104) of water buffalo calves parasited by species E. ankarensis, E. bareillyi, E. zuernii, E. auburnensis, E. bovis,, E. ellipsoidalis, E. subspherica, E. alabamensis, E. cylindrica, E. canadensis, E. brasiliensis.

Dubey et al. (2008) cite a mortality episode of buffalo calves bred in the Netherlands which, aged three weeks, died 1 or 2 days after a diarrhea diagnosis by the owner, their causa mortis being E.baireillyi infection.

For the metaphylactic treatment of eimeriosis in water buffalo calves Bastianetto (2010) tested the following protocols on calves with an average of 7 days of life:

• 1 – sulfaquinoxalin sodium 25mg/ kg body weight orally / 3 days

• 2 – toltrazuril 15 mg/kg body weight orally / single dosage

• 3 – amprolium 10,0mg/kg body weight orally/ 5 days.

• 4 – decoquinate mixed to feeding in 0,5mg/kg live weight for weaning animals

The assessed drugs and their respective dosage were efficient in death control, decrease of clinical cases incidence of eimeriosis and of number of oocysts evacuated. Toltrazuril (15mg/kg body weight) administered around the seventh day of life was the best methodology for the control of eimeriosis in water buffalo calves, confirming similar results by Ghanem et al (2008).

• Verminosis

Verminosis also account for the development of severe cases of gastroenteritis which can be the cause of death of water buffalo calves. Table 2 below shows the main agents related to the description of epidemiological data already studied for the water buffalo species.

The dissemination of the trichostrongylus among ruminants is facilitated by humidity during rainy seasons11. The annual variation of development and availability of larvae in pastures causes the seasonal fluctuation of the helminthes determining higher prevalence of parasite phases in given months of the year.

Starke et al. (1991) observed infecting larvae on grass surviving from 10 to 17 weeks of genders Cooperia sp., Haemonchus sp. e Paracooperia sp., and less than nine weeks of genders Bunostomum sp., Trichostrongylus sp. e Oesophagostomum sp. in dry seasons.

In rainy seasons, larvae on grass of genders Cooperia sp., Haemonchus sp. e Paracooperia SP survive from 3 to 11 weeks and genders Bunostomum sp., Trichostrongylus sp. e Oesophagostomum sp. less than 3 weeks .

Lower survival and reduced presence of larvae in rainy seasons were accounted for the intensity of rains that softened feces and carried larvae, and for the presence of coprophagous beetles that removed the feces in the first week after deposition. The local temperature and average rainfall furthered the larvae migration to grass even during the dry periods as this work took place.

Except for gender Paracooperia SP, all other genders which, according to Gibbs (1986), attack bovines, were described in buffaloes in several countries2, 6, 8 , including Brazil. Considering these epidemiological facts, parasite control measures may be set for water buffalo herds in a great part of the Brazilian territory by means of a functional dosage program efficiently covering livestock (Table 3).

 

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