Parasitological investigations on gastrointestinal helminths and coccidia in zebu cattle were conducted in April and July on a large-scale dairy ranch to determine the prevalence and intensity of these infections relative to the sampling dates. Usingthe McMaster method, parasite eggs or oocysts were counted in a total of 400 stool samples. Paramphistome eggs were the most frequent in stools followed by strongyle-type eggs and those of Fasciola gigantica in decreasing order. The eggs of Moniezia, Trichuris and coccidian oocysts were only found in some animals , regardless of the sampling date. The prevalences of Paramphistomes and F. gigantica were significantly higher in April than in July, while the differences between percentages of the other four parasite categories were not significant. Co-infections of cattle by two or three parasites were observed in 23.3-24.5% of seasonally infected zebus and the association of paramphistome + strongyle-type eggs was the most frequent.The number of paramphistome eggs per gram of stool was significantly higher in April. In the other five categories of parasites, egg or oocyst counts recorded in April and July did not show a significant difference.The range of parasite species present in the zebus from thislarge-scale dairy farm was similar to that previously reported by other authors on gastrointestinal parasites in traditional breeding farms in the same region.. The variations in the prevalence and intensity of these infections might be due to the age ofthe cattle studied and the altitude of the pastures on which these ruminants were grazing.
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