EPIDEMIOLOGY AND ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF FASCIOLOSIS OF DOMESTIC RUMINANTS IN SELECTED SITES OF TIGRAY REGIONAL STATE, NORTHERN ETHIOPIA
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2008-06
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Abstract
A cross sectional study was conducted to determine prevalence, assess risk factors associated with fasciolosis and evaluate economic losses in four selected areas of Tigray Regional State, during September 2007 to May 2008. A total of 1736 domestic ruminants comprising of 1015 cattle, 526 sheep, 167 goats and 28 camel were subjected to coprological investigation and 236 slaughtered animals were included for post mortem survey. Based on coprological investigation the overall prevalence of fasciolosis was 25.3%, 35.7%, 11.4% and 3.6% in cattle, sheep, goats and camels, respectively. In the slaughterhouses survey the prevalence of fasciolosis was 33.1%, 37.2%, and 17.6% in cattle, sheep and goats, respectively. High prevalence was recorded in sheep (37.2%) and lowest in goats (17.6%). Statistical significant differences was observed in prevalence among the species (p<0.05) using coproscopy. Fasciola hepatica was dominant in the highlands while the dominant species in the midland and lowland was F. gigantica. Differences in agroecology, season, body condition and age were shown to have associations with prevalence while no significant association was observed between sexes of animals. Species of animals, season, age and agro-ecology were known to be among important risk factors associated with fasciolosis. The direct and indirect economic loss incurred due to fasciolosis in the study area was estimated to be 268,536.21 Ethiopian Birr. Out of the total incurred losses, 86.3% was in cattle. The present study revealed that infection of domestic ruminants by Fasciola species was attributed by the presence of favorable environment for the abundance of intermediate host and the parasite, hence requiring immediate strategic intervention against the disease.
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Coproscopy, Epidemiology, Fasciola species, Ruminants, Prevalence