RUMINANT FASCIOLOSIS: STUDIES ON THE CLINICAL OCCURRENCE, COPROLOGY, MALACOLOGY AND ABATTOIR SURVEY IN DEBRE BIRHAN AND SURROUNDING AREAS
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2006-06
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Abstract
A study on ruminant fasciolosis in Debre Berhan and surrounding Peasant Associations was conducted from September 2005 to February 2006. The town of Debre Berhan and surrounding five Peasant Associations /PA’s/ within 15 km radius namely; Chole, Genat, Zanjera, Wushawushign and Faji kebele were included in these study period. The study consisted of a questionnaire survey, clinical examination, studies on the prevalence of fasciolosis in cattle and sheep as well as snail population dynamics and infection rates. During the study period cross sectional surveys, coprological examination on animals and evaluation of the liver fluke disease with reference to sex, breed, age, body condition score and season were performed. At the same time studies were conducted in Debre Berhan municipal abattoir, private hotels and restaurants to evaluate the level of liver fluke disease damage in slaughtered animals. The methodology and procedures used in the studies consisted questionnaire survey, coprology, abattoir survey and malacology. Out of the 246 faecal samples collected from cattle and 384 from sheep 158 (64.23%) and 208 (54.17%) were found positive for fasciolosis respectively. Results of the coprological examinations also indicated that the prevalence of the disease significantly varied among the study locations and species of animals. The highest infection rate in cattle was found in Wushawushign (77.5%) and the lowest (53.7%) in Faji kebeles. On the other hand the prevalence of ovine fasciolosis was highest in Genet Giorgis (61.80%) than other kebeles while the lowest prevalence of ovine fasciolosis were recorded in Wushawushign kebele though statistically not significant (P>0.05). Results of the malacological study showed that the major species identified were Lymnaea natalensis, L. truncatula, Bulinus trancatus, B. forscalii, Biomphilaria pfefferi, Bivalvia, Ancylus and other small Planorbids. From the findings of this study the most abundant snail was Bulinus accounting (55.60%) followed by Lymnaed species. Snail population dynamics and their cercariae shedding pattern was higher in late rain season than in the dry season. L. natalensis was encountered for the first time in this area. These snails were recovered from Angolela River at a distance of about 15 kms on Debre Berhan-Mendida-Jihur road located at an altitude 2621 m.a.s.l. Of the 223 bovine and 292 ovine cases presented to the Debre Birhan Veterinary Clinic 38.56% and 28.77% were coprologically positive for Fasciola infection,
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respectively. The drugs most commonly used for the treatment of fasciolosis in the clinic were tricalbendazole and albendazole. Analysis of the findings among different age groups also indicated the existence of significant difference in prevalence of fasciolosis both in cattle and sheep (P<0.05). Sheep with poor body condition were more affected by the disease than sheep with good body condition (P>0.05), while stastically no significant difference was noted in cattle. The primary objectives of this study were to assess the magnitude of fascioliasis in ruminants in the study area; identify the species of snails incriminated as intermediate hosts and examine snail infection rates.
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Ruminant fasciolosis, prevalence, coprology