Disinfestation

DISINFECTION
  • Disinfestation comprises of eliminating sources of parasitic infection, preventing animals from getting access to possible sources of infestations and elimination of intermediate hosts. To achieve those, the following steps are suggested.
    • Prompt and proper disposal of manure and other filth from the farm premises.
    • Regular scrubbing and cleaning of feed and water troughs as well as whitewashing their interior at least once in a week.
    • Leveling up all ditches, low marshy areas, pits etc. in and around animal houses so that water may not stagnate in them.
    • Filling up or fencing of all stagnant water pools, ponds etc. around the farm and on pastures so that animals may not get access to them. It is always better to have piped water supply to farm animals.
    • Housing animals in clean houses with paved floors. Animals of different ages should be housed separately. Younger animals should never be mixed with older ones. Animals of the same age should be managed as a single, closed community.
    • Proper deworming of all such animals before putting them in a shed or bringing them into the farm.
    • If grazing is practiced-division of pasture into several blocks and practicing rotational grazing in these blocks. Feeding of cultivated fodders is more helpful in checking pasture-borne infections.
    • Preventing humans from defecating on pastures or around the farm, as this may cause contamination with tape worm eggs. For the same reason, care should be taken to see that dogs (intermediate hosts), crows and other birds (mechanical carriers) do not gain access to the animal farm.
    • Control of snail population may result in control of liver fluke infestation to some extent. It is worthwhile trying reduction of snail population by treating infected pastures and village ponds with copper sulphate. A concentration of one part of copper sulphate in one million parts of water is generally recommended but stronger solution may be necessary when large quantities of decaying organic matter are present. In treating streams, the rates of flow in cubic meter per second must be estimated and the necessary water up-stream a bag containing copper sulphate. This may help only to reduce snail population temporarily as the same may raise to former levels once copper sulphate is withdrawn. Hence, reliance should be placed on other methods of parasite control.
    • Biological control of snails by way of rearing certain fish species such as Gourami fish can be tried.
Last modified: Saturday, 7 April 2012, 10:58 AM