Prevalence of Fasciola species from Cattle Slaughtered at Birnin Kebbi Modern Abattoir

Abstract

Diagnostic tools to detect and differentiate Fasciola species have improved, but the understanding of the distribution and population structure of this parasite is location dependent. This study was aimed to phenotypically identify Fasciola species from cattle brought for slaughter at Birnin Kebbi Modern Abattoir. Ante-mortem faecal samples were collected from the sampled cattle for worm egg detection and post-mortem inspection of liver samples were performed. Two methods of Parasitological (Flukefinder Kit and formalin-ether sedimentation) methods were performed on the faecal samples. Results have yielded a high prevalence (31.2%) of fluke eggs with the Flukefinder Kit than with formalin-ether sedimentation technique (8.5%). Prevalence was higher (34%) in the males than in female (26.2%) cattle. Younger cattle (34.3%) were also more infected than their older (30.7%) counterpart. Sokoto Gudali had the highest prevalence of 44.0% followed by Red Bororo with 34.0%, and the least prevalence was observed in Bunaji breed with 18.0%. Statistical analyses results had revealed no significant relation between prevalence of fasciolosis and the co-variables (sex, age) as p > 0.05 but there was a significant association between prevalence and breed of cattle (p = 0.018). There was no significant agreement between the methods of faecal analyses used. Prevalence of 15.8% was observed from the post-mortem examination. This have increased the knowledge about the existence of the parasite in the study area. It is recommended that the Flukefinder® Kit should be used in diagnosis of Fasciola species due to its high sensitivity compared to the conventional sedimentation method.