Cross Sectional and Phenotypic Studies on Fasciolosis in Slaughter
Cross Sectional and Phenotypic Studies on Fasciolosis in Slaughter
Cattle in Maiduguri, Nigeria
*1BIU, A.A., 2PAUL, B.T., 3KONTO, M. AND 4YA’UBA, A.M.
*1,2,3,&4Department of Veterinary Microbiology & Parasitology
University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria
E-mail: biuvet@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
A cross-sectional and morphometric study on bovine fasciolosis was conducted in Maiduguri between June and August, 2009. Post mortem examination of the liver by careful visualization, palpation and transverse lobar incision revealed a prevalence of 59 (14.8%) for the 400 slaughtered cattle examined with male (n = 270) having 35 (12.9%) and female (n = 130) having 24 (18.5%). Based on age group, 1-2½ year cattle (n=118) had a prevalence of 13 (11.0%) while 3-4 ½ years (n=242) and 5-6 ½ years (n=40) had 41 (16.9%) and 5 (12.5%) respectively. Breeds examined were Adamawa gudali (n=15), Ambala (n=120), Bunaji (n=38), Kuri (n=13), Rahaji (n=27), Sokoto gudali (n=20), West African dwarf (n=4) and Wadara (n=163) had 2(13.3%), 30(25.0%), 4(10.5%), 0(0.0%), 2(7.4%), 1(5.0%), 0(0.0%) and 20(12.3%) respectively. These prevalence rates based on age, sex and breed indicated no significant deference (P = 0.9539 > 0.05). Fasciola gigantica was the species identified with those measuring a mean length by breadth (range) in mm of 35.8 x 9.0 (21-52 x 4-13) as adults and 21.9 x 6.3 (18-24 x 4-8) as immature forms. The mean ± SD parasitic burden represented intensity/severity of infection and male had a higher mean intensity of 36.7 ± 115.3 compared with female 22.7± 56.5 (p>0.05). The age group of 1-2½ years had a higher mean intensity of 38 (3-145) ± 100.4 than the other age groups, while among breeds, the Bunaji cattle also had a significantly higher mean intensity compared with the other breeds examined. This study has confirmed Fasciola gigantica and its phenotypic characters useful for diagnosis and veterinary education.