COPROLOGICAL STUDY OF GASTROINTESTINAL PARASITES IN DAIRY CATTLE IN SULAYMANIYAH PROVINCE, KURDISTAN REGION, IRAQ

Gastrointestinal (GI) parasitic diseases are a serious problem in cattle management, and one of the most significant reasons for economic losses incattle for developing countries. This study aimed to assessthe prevalence of helminth and protozoan infection of gastrointestinal tract in local dairy cattle in Sulaymaniyah province of Iraq.A total of 1,376rectal fecal specimens of local dairy cattle were randomly collected in different regions of Sulaymaniya province. Direct fecal smear, saturated sugar flotation technique, and simple sedimentation method, were used to detect the parasitic stages in the coprological specimens.The overall prevalence rate was 60.46%.The single and mixed parasite infection rates were 37.21% and 23.25%, respectively. The infection rates of protozoa, nematodes, trematodes, and cestodes were 58.14%, 18.60%, 15.11%, and 3.48%, respectively. Among all parasites, Eimeria spp. (29.07%) was the most abundant one, followed by Buxtonella sulcata (18.60%) and Strongyle nematodes (17.44%). There was significant variation in the prevalence rates of nematodes and protozoa between various age categories and distributional regions. The results indicated that improved management system and proper anthelmintic treatment strategies should be applied in the regions to diminish the high incidence of GI parasitismin local dairy cattle.