PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS OF GIARDIASIS IN BUFFALO CALVES OF NOMADIC COMMUNITIES, JAMMU AND KASHMIR, INDIA

Giardiasis is a gastrointestinal disease prevalent among animals and humans worldwide. In this regard, a study was conducted to assess prevalence and associated risk factors for giardiasis in buffaloes calves reared by nomadic communities of Jammu and Kashmir, India. One hundred twenty faecal samples from buffaloes calves of age up to 1 year were collected and tested by Formol ether sedimentation and Lugol's iodine staining technique. Formol ether sedimentation gave higher prevalence 28.33% than Lugol's iodine staining technique (24.16%. The highest prevalence was observed in females (31.32%), in age group of 3 to 6 months (46.88%) and in monsoon season (53.12%). Prevalence was higher in diarrhoeal calves (32.78%) than non-diarrhoeal ones (23.72%). High risk of infection was observed in non-dewormed calves (30%), those drinking stream water (37.5%) or wallowed in contaminated water (32%) and belong to water-clogged areas (34.28%). Identification of species was done using direct immunochromatographic assay. The study highlights association of water and sanitation with Giardia infection in areas studied.