EFFECTS OF GASTROINTESTINAL PARASITES ON HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF CATTLE IN THE SETIF REGION (ALGERIA)

Abstract

A total of 120 blood and stool samples were collected from cattle in Setif Province, Algeria, between January and May 2025 to evaluate the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites and their effects on hematological parameters. Parasitological examinations revealed a high overall infection rate of 86.66% (104/120), with mixed infestations predominating (60.83%) over single-species infections (39.17%). Moniezia spp. was the most prevalent parasite (47.5%), followed by Toxocara vitulorum (38.3%), Cooperia spp. (24.16%), Taenia spp. (20.83%), Capillaria spp. (15.83%), Fasciola hepatica (14.16%), and Trichostrongylus spp. (13.33%). Less frequent species included Strongylus spp. (4.16%), Ostertagia spp. (3.33%), and Paramphistomum spp. (1.2%). Hematological analysis indicated significant alterations in infected cattle, characterized by reductions in erythrocyte count (6.90 ± 1.20 × 10⁶/μL vs. 7.16 ± 1.51 × 10⁶/μL), hemoglobin concentration (10.01 ± 1.48 g/dL vs. 11.05 ± 2.04 g/dL), hematocrit (30.34 ± 4.92% vs. 34.05 ± 6.26%), and mean corpuscular volume (44.89 ± 5.08 fL vs. 47.89 ± 3.65 fL). In contrast, leukocyte counts were significantly elevated in parasitized animals (9.28 ± 4.10 × 10³/μL vs. 7.88 ± 1.48 × 10³/μL). These results confirm the high burden of gastrointestinal parasitism in cattle from this region and demonstrate its measurable impact on key hematological indices. Targeted parasite control programs and regular health monitoring are essential to improve herd health, reduce production losses, and enhance the economic sustainability of cattle farming in the area.