Gastrointestinal parasite infection and the first molecular detection of strongyle infection in cattle of the Ayeyarwaddy Division, Myanmar.

Background: Gastrointestinal parasites (GI) are a group of pathogens that infect the digestive tract of a wide range of animals and cause significant infections in cattle worldwide. Nematodes at the order level Strongylida have the highest prevalence in livestock farming. In Myanmar, cattle production plays a critical role in the rural lifestyle. However, baseline data on GI parasitic infection in cattle from Myanmar remain scarce.

Aim: This study is the first report to identify the most abundant GI parasites in cattle from this country using microscopic identification, followed by species identification of egg-positive samples through molecular methods targeting the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region.

Methods: A total of 219 cattle were involved in this cross-sectional study. Fecal flotation and formalin-ether centrifugal sedimentation techniques were used for conventional microscopic analysis. A fragment of the ITS gene was analyzed genetically in five samples identified as single-species infections.

Results: Microscopy revealed an overall infection rate of 79.5% with intestinal parasites. Regarding results, strongyles were the most frequently detected parasites, followed by Eimeria spp. and Toxocara spp. Concretely, two species from the family Trichostrongylidae were found in the study area, Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis.

Conclusion: This study provides the first molecular evidence of GI parasites in cattle in Myanmar, highlighting the high risk of parasitic infections in this area. Molecular analysis of five samples showed single-species infections: four with H. contortus and one with T. colubriformis, both likely widespread and dominant in Myanmar. These findings suggest that cattle may contribute to local transmission. The high prevalence underscores the necessity for sustained surveillance, implementation of effective control strategies, intersectoral collaboration between veterinary and public health authorities, and enhancement of public awareness to prevent and manage significant GI parasitic infections in Myanmar.