Gastrointestinal Parasite Prevalence in Dairy Buffaloes in Brazil

A 2024 study by Daniele Bier evaluated the prevalence and seasonality of gastrointestinal parasites in 41 Murrah buffaloes in Bandeirantes, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The study divided animals into three age categories and measured egg per gram (EPG) counts monthly, correlating them with rainfall and temperature. The most common parasites identified were Haemonchus sp. and Cooperia sp.

Use Cases

• Modeling seasonal parasite load based on monthly egg per gram (EPG) counts and weather data.
• Comparing susceptibility to gastrointestinal parasites across different buffalo age categories (suckling calves, weaned calves, adult females).
• Investigating correlations between parasite prevalence and environmental factors like rainfall and temperature.
• Identifying the most common helminth genera (Haemonchus sp., Cooperia sp.) in a specific buffalo population.

Strengths

• Study design includes 41 animals across three distinct age categories, allowing for comparative analysis.
• Data includes specific monthly egg per gram (EPG) counts, such as a peak of 2038 EPG in suckling calves.
• Correlates parasitological data with concrete environmental measurements (e.g., 69.3 mm rainfall, 25.95 ºC temperature).
• Reports statistically significant correlations (p = 0.01, r = -0.33) between EPG and precipitation.

Limitations

• Row count and column-level documentation are absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Data is from a single location and a relatively small sample, which may limit generalizability.
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.

Provenance

Source

Daniele Bier via paperswithcode

Collection Method

A parasitological study evaluating natural infection in buffaloes, likely involving fecal egg counts.

Time Range

Study period includes monthly observations, with data points from months like May, June, September, and November.

Geography

Bandeirantes, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.