Prevalence and Therapeutic Efficacy of Balantidiasis in Cattle in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.sidebar##

Published Dec 27, 2025
https://doi.org/10.70436/nuijb.v4i03.402
Download
PDF 0
Statistic

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Vol. 4 No. 03 (2025): September

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.main##

Redwanullah Memlawal
Nangarhar University
Mohammad Yunas Waziri
Nangarhar University
Sadaqat Sheerzad
Nangarhar University
Mohammad Malyar Rahmani
Nangarhar University

Abstract

Balantidiasis is a widespread protozoan parasitic disease that significantly impairs livestock productivity, particularly in cattle. This study investigated the prevalence of balantidiasis and evaluated the efficacy of therapeutic agents in cattle across ten districts of Nangarhar province, including Khogyani, Pachiragam, Chaparhar, Surkhrod, Hisarak, Behsud, Kama, Khiwa, Goshta, and Mohmand Dara, between March 2022 and March 2023. A total of 384 fecal samples were collected and analyzed using sedimentation and flotation techniques, revealing that 130 samples (33.8%) were positive for balantidiasis. District-wise prevalence rates were as follows: Khogyani 31.5%, Pachiragam 26.0%, Chaparhar 23.6%, Surkhrod 36.8%, Hisarak 23.0%, Behsud 41.0%, Kama 38.4%, Khiwa 43.0%, Goshta 46.0%, and Mohmand Dara 30.7%. Age-wise analysis indicated the highest prevalence in calves aged 1 to 6 months (P < 0.01), while female cattle were significantly more affected than males (P < 0.01). The study further assessed the efficacy of three therapeutic agents. Oxytetracycline (8 mg/kg) reduced oocysts per gram (OPG) by 26.1%, 36.9%, 38.0%, and 50.7% on days 3, 7, 14, and 21 respectively. Metronidazole (25 mg/kg) achieved reductions of 40.6%, 45.7%, 49.1%, and 47.4%, whereas the herbal preparation Shatra (35 mg/kg) produced reductions of 12.3%, 24.6%, 43%, and 46.2% over the same intervals. Statistical analysis indicated that metronidazole demonstrated the highest therapeutic efficacy. In conclusion, balantidiasis remains a significant parasitic threat in Nangarhar, especially affecting young calves and female cattle. Among the treatments tested, metronidazole shows the greatest potential for controlling the disease and improving livestock productivity.

Keywords

Balantidiasis, Cattle, Oxytetracycline, Shatra, Metronidazole

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.details##

Author Biographies

Redwanullah Memlawal, Nangarhar University

Para Clinic Department, Veterinary Science Faculty, Nangarhar University, Jalalabad City, Afghanistan

Mohammad Yunas Waziri, Nangarhar University

Pre Clinic Deparment, Veterinary Science Faculty, Nangarhar University, Jalalabad City, Afghanistan

Sadaqat Sheerzad, Nangarhar University

Pre Clinic Deparment, Veterinary Science Faculty, Nangarhar University, Jalalabad City, Afghanistan

Mohammad Malyar Rahmani, Nangarhar University

Pre Clinic Deparment, Veterinary Science Faculty, Nangarhar University, Jalalabad City, Afghanistan

How to Cite
Memlawal, R., Waziri, M. Y., Sheerzad, S., & Rahmani, M. M. (2025). Prevalence and Therapeutic Efficacy of Balantidiasis in Cattle in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. Nangarhar University International Journal of Biosciences, 4(03), 30–40. https://doi.org/10.70436/nuijb.v4i03.402

References

  1. Ahmed, A., Ijaz, M., Ayyub, R. M., Ghaffar, A., Ghauri, H. N., Aziz, M. U., . . . Javed, M. U. (2020). Balantidium coli in domestic animals: An emerging protozoan pathogen of zoonotic significance. Acta Trop, 203, 105298. doi:10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.105298
  2. Ahmed, A., Ijaz, M., Ayyub, R. M., Ghaffar, A., Ghauri, H. N., Aziz, M. U., . . . Javed, M. U. (2020). Balantidium coli in domestic animals: An emerging protozoan pathogen of zoonotic significance. Acta Tropica, 203, 105298.
  3. Al Numan, A., Hoque, M. R., Siddiqui, T. R., Alam, M. Z., & Dey, A. R. (2022). Factors affecting endoparasitic infections and ectoparasitic infestations of buffaloes in Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
  4. Bilal, C., Khan, M., Avais, M., Ijaz, M., & Khan, J. (2009). Prevalence and chemotherapy of Balantidium coli in cattle in the River Ravi region, Lahore (Pakistan). Veterinary parasitology, 163(1-2), 15-17.
  5. Biswas, A., Alam, K., Riad, M., Hanif, S., & Ahmed, M. (2020). Prevalence and associated factors of balantidiasis in buffaloes of Bhola district, Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Veterinary Medicine (BJVM), 18(1), 19-24.
  6. Chandra Roy, B., Mondal, M., Talukder, M. H., & Majumder, S. (2011). Prevalence of Balantidium coli in Buffaloes at different areas of Mymensingh. Journal of the Bangladesh Agricultural University, 9. doi:10.3329/jbau.v9i1.8746
  7. Jamaldeen, F., Sofi, G., Fahim, M., Aleem, M., & Begum, E. (2022). Shahatra (F. parviflora Lam)-a comprehensive review of its ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmacology. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 286, 114839.
  8. Jamil, M., Ijaz, M., & MUDDASSIR, A. M. (2015). Prevalence, hematology and treatment of Balantidium coli among small ruminants in and around Lahore, Pakistan. Kafkas Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, 21(1).
  9. Khan, A., Khan, M., Avais, M., Ijaz, M., Ali, M., & Abbas, T. (2013). Prevalence, hematology, and treatment of balantidiasis among donkeys in and around Lahore, Pakistan. Veterinary parasitology, 196(1-2), 203-205.
  10. Levine, N. D. (1961). Protozoan parasites of domestic animals and of man.
  11. Mirzaei, M., & Khovand, H. (2015). An investigation on the prevalence of Balantidium coli in traditional farms of the Darab city in Fars Province (Iran). Experimental animal Biology, 4(1), 79-86.
  12. Patil, N., Udupa, K., Kasaralikar, V., & Kumar, S. P. (1998). Prevalence, clinical symptoms and treatment of balantidiosis in buffaloes.
  13. Ponce-Gordo, F., & Jirků-Pomajbíková, K. (2017). Balantidium coli. Water and Sanitation for the 21st Century: Health and Microbiological Aspects of Excreta and Wastewater Management (Global Water Pathogen Project). UNESCO-International Hydrological Programme (Michigan State University), 10.
  14. Quadri, S., & Navarathnam, E. (1966). On a new species of Balantidium from an Indian monkey Macaca radiata.
  15. Raote, Y., Narsapur, V., & Niphadkar, S. (1994). Incidence of Entamoeba bovis and Balantidium coli on organized cattle farms around Bombay.
  16. Roy, B., Mondal, M., Talukder, M., & Majumder, S. (2011). Prevalence of Balantidium coli in Buffaloes at different areas of Mymensingh. Journal of the Bangladesh Agricultural University, 9(1), 67-72.
  17. Sampurna, R. (2007). Balantidiosis (Balantidium coli). Department of Histopathology, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, India.
  18. Schuster, F. L., & Ramirez-Avila, L. (2008). Current world status of Balantidium coli. Clinical microbiology reviews, 21(4), 626-638.
  19. Soulsby, E. J. L. (1968). Helminths, arthropods and protozoa of domesticated animals.
  20. Tarrar, M., Khan, M., Pervez, K., Ashraf, K., Khan, J., & Rehman, Z. (2008). Detection and chemotherapy of Balantidium coli in buffaloes around Lahore, Pakistan. Pakistan J Agr Sci, 45, 163-166.
  21. Tempelis, C., & Lysenko, M. (1957). The production of hyaluronidase by Balantidium coli.
  22. Urquhart, J. (1996). Patient non-compliance with drug regimens: measurement, clinical correlates, economic impact. European heart journal, 17(suppl_A), 8-15.
  23. Van Der Hoeven, J., & Rijpstra, A. (1957). Intestinal Parasites in the Central Mountain District of Netherlands New-Guinea. An Important Foous of Balantidium coli.
  24. Varady, M., Konigova, A., & Corba, J. (2004). A field study to evaluate the efficacy of fenbendazole on 9 stud farms. Veterinární medicína, 49(2), 42.
  25. Verster, A. (1994). Teaching veterinary parasitology. Vet Parasitol, 54(1-3), 269-281. doi:10.1016/0304-4017(94)90095-7
  26. Yazar, S., Altuntas, F., Sahin, I., & Atambay, M. (2004). Dysentery caused by Balantidium coli in a patient with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma from Turkey. World journal of gastroenterology, 10(3), 458.

Most read articles by the same author(s)