Prevalence of Paramphistomes in Mashonaland West, Central, and East, and Midlands Provinces, Zimbabwe

Abstract

Paramphistomes were collected from cattle from various localities in Mashonaland West, Central, and East and Midlands Provinces. After slaughter, their rumens and reticulum were cut open and examined for paramphistomes. Identifications were based on the morphological structuresand measurementsof diagnosticfeaturesfrom flattened and median sagittal sections. Analysis of the structures of the acetabulum, pharynx, and genital atrium revealed the following parasites in the area, Paramphistomum microbothrium, P. clavula, Calicophoron calicophorum, C. raja, and Gigantocotyle symmeri. The average number of cattle found infected annually was 29.39% with an upper limit of the range of around 69%. Parasite loads and damage to tissues were not serious in most cases, except in a few severe cases where the papillae were damaged and a catarrhal pus-like exudate was noticed on the mucosa