ORIGINAL PAPER Gastrointestinal helminthiasis: prevalence and associated determinants in domestic ruminants of district Toba Tek Singh, Punjab, Pakistan Muhammad Nisar Khan & Muhammad Sohail Sajid & Muhammad Kasib Khan & Zafar Iqbal & Altaf Hussain Received: 18 July 2009 / Accepted: 20 May 2010 / Published online: 9 June 2010 # Springer-Verlag 2010 Abstract The objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence and associated determinants (e.g., sex, age, on- farm management and husbandry) of gastrointestinal (GI) helminths in the domestic animals of district Toba Tek Singh, Punjab, Pakistan. For this purpose, 1,140 cattle, 1,140 buffaloes, 660 goats, 840 sheep, and 156 camels were randomly selected and their fecal samples were screened every other week for a year using a modified floatation technique. The samples positive for strongyle-type eggs had the parasite species identified using coproculture. It was found that the prevalence of GI helminths was significantly higher (P <0.05) in sheep (44.17%; 371/840) than in other livestock. Sheep were followed in order by goats (40.15%; 265/660), buffaloes (39.82%; 454/1,140), and cattle (33.68%; 384/ 1,140). The important helminth species identified were Fasciola (F.) gigantica, Fasciola hepatica, Haemonchus contortus, Toxocara vitulorum, Trichostrongylus spp., Oeso- phagostomum spp., Ostertagia spp., Cooperia spp., Strong- yloides spp., Moniezia spp., and Trichuris spp. The prevalence of GI helminths except F. hepatica and F. gigantica was significantly higher in grazing animals, females (P <0.05) and young (P <0.05) of all the host species when compared with stall-fed animals, males and adults, respectively. Using ponds and rivers/canals as drinking water were found to have significant influence (P <0.05) on the prevalence of GI helminths. The results provide a baseline data for planning future research and control strategies against GI helminthes. Introduction Parasitism is of supreme importance in many agro-ecological zones and still a serious threat to the livestock economy worldwide (Vercruysse and Claerebout 2001). Gastrointesti- nal (GI) helminth infections are recognized as a major constraint to livestock production throughout the tropics and elsewhere (Githiori et al. 2004). They cause retarded growth (Kochapakdee et al. 1995), lowered productivity (Perry and Randolph 1999), mortality (Sykes 1994), and high economic losses (Iqbal et al. 1993) thus affecting the income of small holder dairy farming communities. For successful formula- tion and implementation of an efficient and effective strategic helminth control regime, a periodic surveillance providing significant understanding of the prevalence of GI helminthiasis within given environment and associated risk factors that influence their transmission is required. Prevalence of GI helminths has been reported ranging from 0.72 to 84.1% in domestic animals from various parts of the world (Bundy et al. 1983; Fikru et al. 2006). There are many associated risk factors influencing the prevalence of GI helminths including age, sex, weather condition and hus- bandry or management practices (Miller et al. 1998; Mirza and Razzak 1998; Raza et al. 2007; Khan et al. 2009). In Pakistan, several studies have been conducted on ruminant helminthosis of various regions reporting a prevalence range from 25.1–92% (Sarwar 1963; Durrani and Hayat 1964; Siddiqi and Ashraf 1980; Durrani et al. 1981; Mohiuddin et al. 1984; Khan 1985; Marwat et al. 1988; Khan et al. 1989, 2009; Iqbal et al. 1993; Qayyum 1996; Raza et al. 2007). M. N. Khan : M. S. Sajid (*) : M. K. Khan : Z. Iqbal Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan e-mail: drsohailuaf@hotmail.com e-mail: drsohailuaf@uaf.edu.pk? A. Hussain Livestock and Dairy Development Department, District Sheikhupura, Punjab, Pakistan Parasitol Res (2010) 107:787–794 DOI 10.1007/s00436-010-1931-x