Khulna Agricultural University, Khulna

Department of Parasitology
Faculty of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences
Level-2, Semester-1, Session: 2018-19
1 and 2nd Class Test JD 2020 (Practical) Credit: 1
st

Course Code & Title: PAR 2102 (General Parasitology and Malacology)
Total Marks: 20
Date: 10/07/2021
Name: MD. WAHEDUZZAMAN

ID:1901028 Regi : 00028

Assignment Topic: General principles of parasite control.

INTRODUCTION
Parasite control is the judicious use of feasible, profitable measures to minimize the losses and
the hazards of parasitism. The term "parasite control" connotes something quite beyond "keeping
parasites in check," "holding the line" against them.
Parasites and parasitic diseases are of a nature that sets them apart and is the basis of special
principles that determine and explain the measures used to control them. The development of
control measures requires a full knowledge of injuriousness, parasite-host relationships, life
cycles, sources of infection and means of transmission, epizootology, bionomics, immunity,
factors that augment host resistance, and geographical distribution. Animal parasites are a
universal hazard to livestock production, although individual species are limited in distribution
and intensity by a sensitive adjustment to climate (and other factors) and by the kinds of animals
in which they develop. They are abundant in numbers and kinds and are chiefly injurious
because of the inapparent, unrecognized loss from subclinical parasitism. They are, then,
especially dangerous because of their insidious and unspectacular effects despite the fact that
they are generally better known for their ability to cause disease and death in livestock.

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Principles of parasite control

Type of parasite control Mechanism

Pollution reduction Reduce exposure to pollutants that may affect host immune
system functioning
Buffer zone between wildlife and Reduce transmission between domestic livestock and
livestock wildlife

Livestock vaccination Reduce susceptible host density (of reservoir) and,

therefore, parasite abundance
Reintroduce parasitic competitors Increased competition with the pathogenic parasite
species to reduce its abundance
Host translocation in, improve Reduce inbreeding depression and, therefore, host
connectivity between populations susceptibility to parasitism
Remove dead hosts Carcases are used for reinfection by some
parasites

Host translocation out Reduce susceptible host density and, therefore, parasite
abundance
Cull or vaccinate sympatric hosts Reduce susceptible host density (of reservoir) and,
therefore, parasite abundance
Reduce vector population through Reduces transmission rate of parasite and, therefore, parasite
habitat modification or chemical abundance
trapping
Treatment Eliminate parasite from treated hosts

Control methods
Hygiene

Cleanliness is a defense against parasites. Feed troughs and water sources located where they can
be contaminated with feces will increase the chances of livestock infestation. This is only one
reason not to water directly from ponds, or to allow animals continuous access to water sources.
Feeders should be cleaned and elevated. Calving and lambing areas, as well as other holding
areas, should be clean and dry. Prevent the transmission of infestations from new arrivals to the
herd or flock by deworming them before arrival and again three weeks later.

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Nutrition

Nutrition plays a major role in how well animals are able to overcome the detrimental effects of
internal parasites. In fact, the signs of parasitism can often be used as a symptom of some other
problem, usually poor nutrition.
By-pass Protein: Researchers in New Zealand have been studying the effects of by-pass protein
on parasitized sheep. They have found that by increasing the amount of protein that is not
degraded or broken down in the rumen, animals lose less weight than those animals that
were not fed the increased level of by-pass protein. The protein in native warm season grasses
also has a higher level of by-pass protein.
Phosphorus: There is also research that shows that when the phosphorus level of the diet was at
a level of .28% phosphorus on a dry matter basis, the weight gain of lambs infected with
parasites was increased by 40% over those lambs fed a low (.18%) phosphorus level diet .

Pasture Management
Management of animals, pastures and any loafing areas is key to reducing the amount of internal
parasite problems in livestock. Pasture contamination can be reduced through management.
Livestock will avoid manure piles and the grass surrounding them. This behavior also helps them
avoid eating larvae. The height of the pasture sward can affect parasites. The majority of worm
larvae crawl only one inch from the ground onto plants, so not allowing animals to graze below
that point will cut down on a lot of infestation. This is one reason sheep tend to have more
problems with internal parasites. They eat much lower to the ground than cattle do, picking up
higher numbers of larvae. Therefore, it is important to monitor grazing sheep closely so they
don’t graze too low. Larvae migrate from the manure no more than 12 inches from the manure
pile. If livestock are not forced to eat close to their own manure, they will eat fewer larvae.
Warmth, oxygen and moisture are the three most important things that increase the chances that
larvae will survive on pasture . Knowing when your pastures are apt to be driest and coldest will
help you manage them better for parasite control.

Strategic Deworming

There will be times when chemical dewormers are the best treatment. The situation, time of year
and location will help determine which chemical dewormer to use. These dewormings should be
strategically carried out in order to reduce the number of times needed. There are
three main classes of wormers—the benzimidazoles, such as fenbendazole or Safeguard (white);
the imidazothiazoles, such as levamisole (yellow); and the avermectins, of which ivermectin
(clear) is a member. Rotating these three classes yearly is an accepted rule for decreasing
resistance buildup by the parasites themselves. It is critical to reworm three weeks later,
especially with newly weaned animals.

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Antiparasitic drugs are used for two purposes-to treat clinical cases or to provide a clean herd.
The first requires the removal of only sufficient parasites to relieve the symptoms; the second
postulates a much more efficient drug, one which would destroy all parasites being the ideal.
There are few such drugs available as yet and such as are, may be used with success against a
comparatively small number of species; fortunately, however, these include several of the
important forms. Where these drugs are available, for either internal or external parasites, their
use as a means of control is highly important. All members of the herd should be treated
regularly until all parasites have disappeared and no residual infection left to act as a starting
point for re-infection.

CONCLUSION

The principles which have just been discussed are general ones. They represent the broad
outlines of prevention as discovered by the science of parasitology and which must be applied at
their discretion, by the arts of medicine and veterinary medicine, public health and agriculture.
Being principles, their application must vary with circumstances and there is no general rule of
universal application which, if faithfully followed, will bring success. The discussion of the
measures to be taken to prevent every parasitic disease in any district is not only beyond the
scope of these chapters, but it presumes a degree of knowledge we do not yet possess. There is
no one thing that can be given or done to replace chemical dewormers . It will take a
combination of extremely good management techniques and possibly some alternative therapies.
An understanding of the life cycles of the different parasites within the whole soil-plant-animal
system will help show the interrelationships between these three components. Managing internal
parasites is just like managing fleas in dogs and cats. The major part of the parasite life cycle is
outside of the animal. This point will help the producer to choose management strategies that
reduce parasite levels on his or her farm and decrease the usage of chemical dewormers.

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