Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Ovine Fasciolosis in Ejere District, West Shewa, Ethiopia

Research Article

Austin J Vet Sci & Anim Husb. 2023; 10(3): 1122.

Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Ovine Fasciolosis in Ejere District, West Shewa, Ethiopia

Adugna Girma¹; Gerema Abera²; Shewareged Girma²; Immabet Sori²; Gululat Teklu²; Gemta Hailu²; Zennebech Gelalcha²

1Yemelogi Welel Woreda Agriculture Office, Livestock Development Department, Kellem Wollega Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia.

2Ejere Woreda Agriculture Office, Livestock Development Department, West Shoa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia.

*Corresponding author: Adugna Girma Lema Yemalogi Welel Woreda Agriculture Office, Kellem Wollega, Oromia, Ethiopia. Email: abdiadugna4@gmail.com

Received: March 21, 2023 Accepted: May 01, 2023 Published: May 08, 2023

Abstract

Fasciolosis is one of the most prevalent trematode helminth infections of ruminants in different parts of the world. It causes significant morbidity and mortality. The presence of fasciolosis due to F.hepatica and F.gigantica in Ethiopia has long been known, and its prevalence and economic significance have been reported by several researchers. However, the disease is insufficiently investigated, and information relating to its magnitude, distribution, and risk factors is scant Ejere district, West Shewa Oromia region of Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2021 to June 2022 in the Ejere district with the objective of estimating the prevalence of ovine fasciolosis and assessing the various risk factors associated with it. A total of 196 fecal samples from sheep were collected by using simple random technique and examined. The data was analyzed using SPSS software. Among a total of 196 examined sheep, 41 were found positive for Fasciola, with an overall prevalence of 20.92%. The prevalence of fasciolosis recorded in the six kebeles was 5.45%, 14.29%, 7.14%, 16.22%, 5.45%, and 11.94% in Ejere Sokile, Baso, Kimmoyye, Ilu Aga, Kusaye, and Gaba Jimata, respectively. In this study, ovine fasciolosis showed a statistically significant difference in sex, management system, body condition, and history of deworming (p<0.05). The difference in age was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The current study indicates that fasciolosis is a common and prevalent disease in sheep in the study area. Strategic anthelmintic treatment with appropriate drugs and a reduction in the risk of infection should be upgraded in society.

Keywords: Ejere; Ethiopia; Ovine fasciolosis; Prevalence; Risk factors.

Abbreviations: DACA: Drug Administration and Control Authority; EWAB: Ejere Woreda Agricultural Bureau; FAO: Food and Agricultural Organization of United Nations; SPSS: Statistical Package of Social Sciences; WHO: World Health Organization

Introduction

Ethiopia has an enormous livestock resource, contributing 15% of GDP and 33% of agricultural output [1], and has the largest livestock population in Africa, with an estimated population of 26.1 million sheep [2]. Among the small ruminants in Ethiopia, sheep are the dominant livestock, providing up to 63% of cash income and 23% of the food subsistence value obtained from livestock production productivity [3].

Sheep play a significant role in maintaining household stability by providing meat, milk, skin, and wool; generating cash income; and playing traditional social and religious roles. Even though Ethiopia is known for its larger animal populations, the animals’ performance and their contribution to the national economy are relatively low due to viral, bacterial, and parasitic diseases; improper healthcare; and other management problems [4]. Endo-parasitic infections are known to be the main factors that affect productivity. As previously reported [5], the various species of gastrointestinal and pulmonary nematodes, trematodes, and cestodes are known to be prevalent in Ethiopia.

Fasciolosis is one of the most prevalent trematode helminth infections of ruminants in different parts of the world. It causes significant morbidity and mortality. The presence of fasciolosis due to F.hepatica and F.gigantica in Ethiopia has long been known, and its prevalence and economic significance have been reported by several workers [6]. Areas with seasonally flooded pastures, grazing areas lacking shores, slowly flowing waterways, and banks of rivers are among the most conducive environments for the breeding of snail vectors of fasciolosis [7]. Thus, the two Fasciolid species overlap in many African and Asian countries. Although, in such cases, the ecological requirements of the flukes and their snail intermediate host are distinct [8].

In Ethiopia, the annual losses due to ovine fasciolosis were estimated at 48.4 million Ethiopians per year, of which 46.5%, 48.8%, and 4.7% were due to mortality, productivity (weight loss and reproductive wastage), and liver condemnation at slaughter, respectively [9]. Apart from its great veterinary importance throughout the world, F. hepatica has recently been shown to be a re-emerging and widespread zoonotic agent, affecting numerous human populations in the world [10].

The prevalence of fasciolosis in sheep has not been conducted so far in the Ejere Woreda district. In the area, especially in Ilu Aga, Baso, and Gaba Jimata attributes the creation of a favorable environment for the growth and multiplication of snails for intermediate hosts by providing moisture from flooding during the rainy season and from the irrigation schemes during the dry season. However, the disease is insufficiently investigated, and information relating to its magnitude, distribution, and risk factors is scant. Therefore, the present study was undertaken with the general objective to assess the prevalence of ovine fasciolosis in study area and specifically of providing information on the current status of the prevalence of ovine fasciolosis and assessing the various risk factors associated with it in selective kebele of Ejere Woreda, West Shewa, Ethiopia.

Objective

The objective of current study was to identify the Prevalence and associated risk factors of ovine Fasciolosis in Ejere District, West Shewa, Ethiopia.

Materials and Methods

Description of the Study Area

The study was conducted from May 2022 to June 2022 in Ejere district, Western Shewa, Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Ejere is located 44 kilometers west of Addis Ababa at an altitude of 2060–3085 meters above sea level between latitude 9° 9" N and longitude 38° 22" E. The mean annual rainfall is 1075mm; more than 80% of which falls between June and September, and the mean temperature is 26.5°C. The total sheep population of Ejere Woreda is 63,588 [11].

Study Animal

The study animals were sheep of both sexes, different age groups such as young (<2 year) and adults (≥2 year), and different body conditions kept in the Ejere district under an extensive and intensive production system. The age of selected sheep was determined by asking owners and by dentition method.

Study Design

A cross-sectional study was used for this study to assess the prevalence and identify associated risk factors that have contributed to ovine fasciolosis in the Ejere district.

Sample Size Determination and Sampling Technique

As there is no published information on the prevalence of ovine fasciolosis in the Ejere district, the sample size was calculated using formula, which included a 50% expected prevalence, a 7% desirable absolute precision, and a 95% confidence interval.

Where n = sample size, Pexp = expected prevalence, and d = desired absolute precision. Hence, according to the formula given above, the total sample size was estimated at 196. Study animals were selected from six kebeles. Purposely, six kebeles (three kebeles from swampy areas and three from non-swampy areas) were selected. A simple random technique was used to select the study animal from the population.

Sample Collection, Transportation and Examination

After properly restraining the animal, fecal samples were collected directly from the rectum or from freshly dropped feces using disposable gloves, placed in bottles, reserved, labeled, and transported to the Ejere Woreda type ‘B’ veterinary clinic laboratory and screened for the presence of fasciola eggs using the sedimentation technique. Identification of the eggs was made based on the morphological keys given by [12] by using a compound microscope with 10x and 40x objectives.

Coprological Examination

Faecal samples were collected directly from the rectum of randomly selected animals and examination carried out in the field as much as possible. The samples were collected in tightly closed universal bottles and examined for presence of Fasciola eggs. Faecal examinations for fluke eggs usually require use of faecal sedimentation. Accordingly, a total of 196 faecal samples were collected and processed.

Sedimentation procedures concentrate both eggs and faeces at the bottom of a liquid medium (water) and help to detect fluke eggs that have too high specific gravity. Therefore, the samples were analyzed using sedimentation procedure to demonstrate liver fluke eggs which are large, golden, and yellow in color. Briefly, about 3 grams of faeces as weighed and 42ml of tap water was poured to it. It was thoroughly mixed with a stirring device. The suspension was then filtered through a tea strainer. The filtered suspension was poured in to test tube which stood in the rack. The test tubes with filtered material was put in centrifuge and centrifuged for three minutes for 1200 rpm. The supernatant was carefully discarded after centrifuged. The resulting sediment was stained by adding two drops of methylene blue and shacked carefully. A small drop of the stained sediment was transferred to a microscope slide using a pipette. Cover slip was put to over the droplet. It was then examined under microscope at 10x objective [13].

Data Analysis

The collected data was first entered and managed in a Microsoft Excel worksheet, and SPSS software version 20 was used for data analysis. A chi-square (χ²) was used to determine the association between fasciola infestation and risk factors, and a P value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

Overall Prevalence of Ovine Fasciolosis in Ejere Fistrict

A total of 196 sheep were examined to estimate the prevalence of ovine fasciolosis and associated risk factors that favors fasciola infestation in the Ejere district. Among the examined sheep, 41 were found positive for Fasciola, with an overall prevalence of 20.92%.

Prevalence of Ovine Fasciolosis Based on Risk Factors

Prevalence variation exists between origins, the six kebeles in the district, the highest being at Ilu Aga (16.22%) followed by Baso (14.29%) Gaba Jimata (11.94%) which were from swampy area and Kimmooyyee (7.14%) and with symmetric record of Ejere Sokile (5.45%) and Kusaye (5.45%) those from non-swampy locality. This difference in prevalence was statistically significant (p<0.05) (Table 1).

Citation: Girma A, Abera G, Girma S, Sori I, Teklu G, et al. Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Ovine Fasciolosis in Ejere District, West Shewa, Ethiopia. Austin J Vet Sci & Anim Husb. 2023; 10(3): 1122.