A Study on the Occurrence and Chemotherapy of Trematodes and Cestodes in Equines in Peshawar, Pakistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55627/agrivet.004.01.01216Keywords:
Trematodes, Cestodes, Chemotherapy, Hemato-biochemical, EquinesAbstract
The present study was conducted to determine the occurrence and risk factors, as well as the comparative efficacy of different oral drugs, using hematological and serum biochemical markers against gastrointestinal trematodes and cestodes in equines. A total of 150 equines (75 horses and 75 donkeys) were selected from Peshawar, Pakistan. Fecal samples were collected and processed according to standard procedures. Parasite eggs were studied under microscopic examination using the egg flotation and McMaster techniques. Chemotherapy with albendazole, praziquantel, and piperazine was administered against the different parasites observed, based on identification methods. Various blood parameters, such as hemoglobin, red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), serum potassium (K), and liver enzymes including alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), were assessed. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS 16.0 software with an unpaired sample T-test and one-way ANOVA. The results demonstrated that among the various types of cestodes and trematodes present in equines, the highest occurrence was found in Gastrodiscus spp. at 50%, compared to Paranoplocephala spp. (15%) and Anoplocephala spp. (19%). After treatment with albendazole, praziquantel, and piperazine, the levels of hemoglobin, RBCs, and WBCs increased significantly. Similar improvements were observed in serum potassium, AST, and ALT levels. The use of these dewormers remarkably reduced parasitic egg load and improved the hematological and biochemical profiles in horses and donkeys in Peshawar, Pakistan.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Samia Mushtaq, Javeria Ali Khan, Aneela Zameer Durrani, Muhammad Asif, Fawad Khalil Pitafi, Komal Arshad Gill, Muhammad Usman Ghani, Muhammad Ali, Ikram Ul Haq, Chakar Khan
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