Abstract
Background: Cattle play a crucial role in Indonesia’s agricultural and economic sectors; however, gastrointestinal parasite infections remain a significant constraint on their productivity. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, diversity, and infection patterns of gastrointestinal parasites in cattle in Lamongan Regency, East Java. Methods: A total of 120 fecal samples were collected from smallholder farms and examined using standard flotation and McMaster techniques. Results: The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was 65% (78/120). Identified helminths included Oesophagostomum sp. (22.5%), Strongylus sp. (16.66%), Trichuris sp. (10.83%), Moniezia sp. (10%), Toxocara vitulorum (9.16%), Haemonchus sp. (5.83%), and Capillaria sp. (4.16%). The only protozoan detected was Eimeria sp., which had the highest prevalence (30%). Males exhibited slightly higher infection rates (33.33%) than females (31.66%), and the highest prevalence was observed in calves aged less than 6 months (45.83%). Single infections (79.49%) were more common than mixed infections (20.51%). Although the prevalence was high, most infections were of mild intensity (1–500 eggs per gram of feces). Conclusion: These findings underscore the importance of routine parasitological monitoring and integrated parasite control strategies, particularly for young cattle and farms with poor management practices, to reduce productivity losses and improve overall herd health.
Keywords
Cattle, Disease, Gastrointestinal parasites, Parasitic infection, Prevalence