STUDY ON COMPARATIVE DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES OF FASCIOLOSIS IN SLAUGHTERED RUMINANTS AT ELFORA EXPORT ABATTOIR DEBRE ZEIT, ETHIOPIA
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2006-06
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Abstract
A study was conducted at ELFORA Export Abattoir, Debre-Zeit in order to compare the different diagnostic techniques in ruminant fasciolosis. The results of standard faecal sedimentation technique for fluke egg quantification was compared to that of an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (indirect ELISA) test and liver inspection as well as results of serum enzyme activities. Out of the 324 cattle, 350 sheep and 385 goats slaughtered at ELFORA Export Abattoir, 125 (38.5%), 4 (1.14%) and 2 (0.51%) were found to be positive for lesions of fasciolosis, respectively during post mortem inspection. During faecal examination 108(33%), 4(1.14%) and 2(0.51%) were positive for fasciola eggs in cattle sheep and goats respectively. Further examination on 134 randomly selected samples from cattle revealed that 75%, 29% and 41% were positive using serological, faecal and postmortem examination techniques, respectively. In small ruminants, the prevalence of fasciolosis was low both in coproscopy and indirect ELISA testes: only one out of 68 sheep was positive coproscopically and 3 were positive serologically; and one out of 22 goats tested was positive both at coproscopy and serology examinations. This indicates the high sensitivity of ELISA compared to the others techniques in diagnosing fasciolosis. The overall assessment indicates the relatedness of faecal examination result with ELISA findings, though the test agreement is weak (Kappa 0.236). Similarly, there was a strong relationship between faecal examination and postmortem findings of liver lesions, Kappa value, P=0.758). Out of the 54 cattle with known liver lesions of fasciola 33 (61.1%) were having elevated levels of GGT than normal value for cattle, in support of the above statement, our findings regarding the level of GGT suggest its association with liver lesions encountered at postmortem examination. The level of test of agreement between the liver examination and GGT determination was however moderate (Kappa=0.332). On the other hand the level of LDH has shown to be generally elevated both in negative as well as positive animals for liver lesions indicating the absence of relationship between liver lesions and level of LDH. The use of ELISA is found to be a more reliable diagnostic test than coproscopy in detecting fasciolosis in ruminants.
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Coproscopy, ELISA, Fasciola, Liver enzymes, Ruminants