author(s)
M Venkatesan, P Selvaraj, S Yogeshpriya and K Jayalakshmi

abstract
Many health cares challenges of native cattle exist and remain unattended due to constraints on many fronts. One such challenge was that of thelaziasis in native hilly cattle of Vellore district was documented. Fifty-one cases of cattle eyeworms were diagnosed in hilly cattle, in a retrospective study of 1500 dairy animal and indigenous cattle, which were presented for field veterinary in and around the villages of Vellore district of Tamil Nadu. Among the various ailments presented, 28 cross breed Jersey and 23 non-descript cows reared in hilly regions and adjoining arears were clinically diagnosed to have the eyeworm Thelazia spp. Selected animals had inappetance, conjunctivitis, unilateral or bilateral lacrimation and corneal opacity. Live worm scrolling over the cornea and conjunctiva was observed. Majority of the eye worm affected animals were from the hilly regions of Vellore (60.78%) than from plains (39.21%). Prevalence of eye worm was higher (68.62%) during summer followed by monsoon periods (31.37%). Non-surgical management using Ivermectin @ 0.2 mg per kg at weekly interval SC, inj. Placentrex (placental extracts) 2ml sub-conjuctivally and supportive care helped in uneventful recovery.