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Aim of the study: This study was conducted to document the ethnoveterinary medicinal (EVM) practices for the treatment of different parasitic diseases of livestock in Cholistan desert, Pakistan.

Materials and methods: An initial reconnaissance survey (rapid rural appraisal) among the local shepherds was conducted to identify the traditional healers. Information was collected from the traditional healers using a well-structured questionnaire through open-ended interviews and guided dialogue technique.

Results: The parasitic diseases reported in livestock were: tick and lice infestation, mange, myiasis and helminthiasis. A total of 77 ethnoveterinary practices comprising of 49 based on plant usage and 28 based on dairy products, chemicals and other organic matter were documented. A total of 18 plant species representing 14 families were documented to treat the parasitic diseases. The plants included: Aerva javanica (Amaranthaceae), Aizoon carariense (Aizoaceae), Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae), Brassica campestris (Cruciferae), Capparis decidua (Capparaceae), Capsicum annuum (Solanaceae), Citrullus colocynthis (Cucurbitaceae), Cyperus rotundus (Cyperaceae), Calligonum polygonoides (Polygonaceae), Eruca sativa (Cruciferae), Ferula assafoetida (Umbelliferae), Haloxylon salicornicum (Chenopodiaceae), Mallotus philippinensis (Euphorbiaceae), Nicotiana tabacum (Solanaceae), Pinus roxburghii (Pinaceae), Salsola baryosma (Chenopodiaceae), Solanum surratens (Solanaceae) and Zingiber officinale (Zingiberaceae).

Conclusion: The EVM practices documented in this study need to be validated using standard parasitological procedures. Issues that should be addressed are efficacy (vis-a-vis claims made by the respondents), quality, safety and standardization of doses. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.