DOCUMENTATION OF PARASITIC DISEASES AND TRADITIONAL VETERINARY PRACTICES OF EQUINES IN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Abstract

This study was carried out for the (i) development of an inventory of the diseases of equines prevalent in three districts (Faisalabad, Sargodha and Lahore) of Punjab (Pakistan), with special emphasis on the parasitic diseases, and (ii) documentation of traditional veterinary medicine/practices (TVPs) in equines. The study was carried out in three districts (Faisalabad, Sargodha and Lahore) of Punjab-Pakistan. Survey was done with the help of Brooke Hospitals for Animals, Pakistan located at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF)-Pakistan. A total of 450 equine farmers constituted the key respondents for this study. One hundred and fifty respondents represented each of the three districts of Faisalabad, Sargodha and Lahore. Interviews, focused group discussions and field visits were conducted with the respondents. A total of 450 equines including 147 horses, 230 donkeys and 73 mules were subjected to clinical examination, blood examination and necropsy for the documentation of diseases/condition of equines in study area. A total of 53 diseases/conditions were documented in different species of equines in the study area. Internal parasites (32.2%) constituted the major category of ailments followed by wounds (26.9%), bacterial infections (20.4%), lameness (12.9%), miscellaneous (12.7%), gastrointestinal disorders (7.6%), bronchitis/cough (7.3%), allergic dermatitis (7.1%), external parasites (6.2%), colic (5.3%), eye problems (3.1%), hematuria (1.8%) and quidding (1.1%). Horses were most diversely affected (n=47/53) followed by donkeys (n=44/53) and mules (n=24/53). A total of 60 plants and 44 materials other than plants were documented for their use in different diseases/conditions of equines. Maximum number of remedies/prescriptions was documented for the treatment of wounds (n=57) followed by lameness (n=40), bronchitis and colic (n=21), anorexia (n=19), dermatitis (n=16), weakness (n=13), internal parasites (n=12), external parasites (n=11), fever (n=09), heat stress and retention of urine (n=08), swelling and toxemeia (n=07), indigestion (n=06), diarrhea and pain (n=05), haematuria (n=04), quidding (n=03), bad habits, eye problem and tetanus (n=02). Similar trend was seen for the number of TVPs used for different diseases/conditions being highest (n=121) for wounds and the lowest for tetanus (n=02). The number of plants used for different diseases/conditions also varied being maximum for lameness (n=21) followed by anorexia (n=17), wounds (n=16), weakness (n=14), bronchitis (n=12), fever and indigestion (n=11). The maximum number of materials other than plants was used for wounds (n=17) followed by lameness (n=16) and colic (n=12). Allium cepa, Zingiber officinale, Vernonia anthelmintica, Capsicum annum, Brassica campestris, and Trachyspermum ammi were the most diversely used plants. Twenty six of the 44 materials other than plants were used for the treatment of more than one disease/condition. Jaggery, water, common salt, black salt, alum stone and milk were the most diversely and frequently used materials other than plants. It is, recommended that (i) disease prevalence studies should be conducted on larger scale, (ii) documentation work may be expanded to other areas having rich cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge, (ii) all the plants used in TVPs may be subjected to standard scientific procedures for their validation, dose standardization and safety/toxicity studies, (iii) use of materials other than plants be rationalized and (iii) results of the present study should be shared with the equine owners and education/training programs on best equine husbandry practices be carried out.