Bovine Thelaziosis in Kupang District Livestock

Abstract

Thelaziosis is eyeworm disease caused by nematodes. The life cycle of this worm requires the host intermediate flies of the family Muscidae. Kupang district is an area that has the potential of beef cattle farms large enough. Generally, beef cattle in Kupang district has traditionally maintained by means of grazing on pasture. This maintenance method has the risk of becoming infected by various diseases including thelaziosis. Information of thelaziosis in Indonesia is very minimal including in Kupang district. This study was conducted to identify species of Thelazia, determine the prevalence, the intensity infection, clinical sign and to investigate associated risk factors of thelaziosis. Survey thelaziosis in Kupang district were carried out using Cross-sectional study. A total of 385 cattles were randomly selected from 96 farms in three subdistrict of Kupang District and observed to thelaziosis. The nematode present in the eye of cattle were collected with a forcep after administrating of local anesthesia (10% Xylocaine). The potential risk factors regarding to age of cattle, human resources and farm management were obtained by interviewing the farmers. The influence of various risk factors to the prevalence of thelaziosis were analized using chi-square, while logistic regression was applied to analyze related risk factor of thelaziosis. Total of 357 worms (157 males and 210 female) were collected from 23 infected cattles with the mean number of worms in infected cattle was 32.92 ± 21.03. Observation using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) on morphology characteristic showed that nematode species founded were identified as Thelazia rhodesii. The result showed that of the total 385 cattles observed, 23 (5.96%) were infected by T.rhodesii, of which 22 cattles showed apparent clinical signs namely excessive lacrimation and conjunctivitis that leads to keratoconjunctivitis, while one cattle showed ulceration. The infection was more prevalence in older cattle (>6-12 month old and >12 month old) than calf (0-6 month old) (P<0.05). Significant risk factors of animal husbandry practices affecting the prevalence of thelaziosis in cattle were anthelmintic treatment, grazing management, barn cleaning, and manure management. The regular once a year anthelmintic treatment had 19.06 (P<0.05) times higher risk to Thelazia spp infection than the regular twice a year treatment. Regular cleaning of barn, once a month had 124.08 (P<0.05)times higher risk factors to Thelazia spp infection than everyday and pastoral locations on pasture had 19.3 (P<0.05) higher risk factors than field rice to Thelazia spp infection. Our results highlight that significancy risk factors for the occurrence of the disease should be considered in designing control programs of thelaziosis.