The prevalence of bovine parasites in various environments within the lowland tropical country of Guyana

Abstract

The variety and relative abundance of bovine hemo, external and helminth parasites were compared between four ecologically distinct areas of Guyana. The coastal area, the richest agricultural area within the country, contains the highest livestock populations. The cattle for the most part are secondary to crop production on the alluvial soils reclaimed from mangrove swamps. The forested areas of Guyana are a true rain-forest with a four layer tree canopy. Livestock production is being developed in areas cleared of forests. The mid-savannahs are natural brown sand savannahs dominated by Trachypogon plumosus. This grass is unpalatable to cattle for much of the year. The Rupununi is a large savannah with an eight month dry period. The dominant grass in this savannah is also T. plumosus. The following hemoparasites were identified: Trypanosoma vivax in 0.7 per cent of the coastal cattle; Anaplasma marginale in 85 per cent of the cattle with the highest prevalence in the mid-savannahs and the lowest on the coast; the serological prevalence of Babesia bigemina was 31 per cent and Babesia argentina 11 per cent with a lower prevalence in the forested areas. ...