ESTACIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF PARASITES OF CALVES IN ALEGRE, ESPIRITO SANTO

Abstract

The study aimed to establish the seasonal distribution of parasites of calves on Alegre, Espírito Santo State. From October 2005 to September 2007, five crossbred calves were evaluated every 14 days. The animals were evaluated clinically, Dermatobia hominis larvae and ticks were counted and feces and blood were collected and sent to the laboratory of parasitology of the Centro de Ciências Agrárias of Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo for counting eggs per gram of feces (EPG), fecal cultures and blood exams. The temperature, relative humidity and rainfall were supplied by Agrometeorological Station of the CCA-UFES. For Strongyloidea, coccidia and Trichuris sp., the means were 174.35; 37.57; 1.52 and 272.92; 45.17; 3.3 epg respectively in the dry and rainy season. Haemonchus spp. and Cooperia spp larvae were identified predominantly in cultures. The infestation by Dermatobia hominis was higher in the rainy season and tick infestation was greater in the dry season.