Occurrence of tapeworms of the family Anoplocephalidae in herds of dairy cattle in Lesser Poland and in Lower Silesia, Poland.

This study was performed to determine the tapeworm infection of grazing cattle in 11 dairy herds in Lower Silesia and Lesser Poland (Galicia). Rectal faecal samples were examined microscopically for tapeworm eggs by Willis-Shlaaf's flotation, Telemann's sedimentation (for fatty stools) and decantation method. Out of 182 cattle, 10 (5.5%) were found to be infected with tapeworms. The prevalence in 5 of 11 examined herds varied from 15.5 to 30.5% and was highest for animal being in the first lactation. Tapeworm eggs were detected in animals being in the first and second lactation (about three- to four-years-old cows). All the qualitative methods were effective in the diagnosis of tapeworm infection in cattle.