Prevalence of Fasciola Infection in Small Ruminant in and Around Hirna

Research Article

Austin J Vet Sci & Anim Husb. 2018; 5(3): 1047.

Prevalence of Fasciola Infection in Small Ruminant in and Around Hirna

Dina J¹ and Henok A²*

¹East Harerge Zone, Kurfachale District Livestock and fish Resourse Development Office, Ethiopia

²Hirna Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Ethiopia

*Corresponding author: Henok Abebe, Hirna Regional Veterinary Laboratory, P.O>Box 36 Ethiopia; Email clexhena@gmail.com

Received: July 11, 2018; Accepted: September 04, 2018; Published: September 11, 2018

Abstract

A cross sectional study was conducted in and around Hirna town (Tullo districts) from November 2014 to June 2015, to estimate the prevalence of Fasciola spp infection and assess the associated risk factors in sheep and goats based on faecal examination. For this purpose, a total of 384 sheep and goats were coprological examined. Data about the assumed risk factors were also obtained from the animals’ owners during faecal sample collection. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Accordingly, an overall prevalence of 32.03% was observed (33.9% in sheep and 29.5% in goats). There was significant difference (P > 0.05) in the prevalence of Fasciola infection among peasant association and their prevalence was as follow: Odabelina (49.1 %) followed by Lubudhekeb (41.7 %) and the remained peasant association were Kirakufis (35.4%), (Reketafura (27.3%), Ifabas (23.6), Hirna 01 (22.6%) and Hirna 02 (16.7%).

There was no statistically significant variation (p>0.05) by sex, age, breed and body condition score but on age basis the prevalence of fasciolosis was highest (36.8%) in age of animals above three years followed by those animals that have age one to three years (31.2%) and the lowest prevalence (30%) was observed in Small ruminants less than one year old .The present study revealed that animals with medium body condition score (35.6%) were more likely affected by fasciola infection than animals with poor (31.1%) and good (29.6%) body condition scores. In conclusion, this study has revealed that Fasciola spp are important parasites affecting small ruminants in the study area and favorable environmental conditions are available in the area for the breeding and survival of the snail intermediate host. Therefore, concerned professionals and local stakeholders should give due attention towards the control of the parasite. The prevalence of ovine and caprine fasciolosis in the study area should be reduced by sustainable and integrated control programs which include strategic application of anthelmintic, efficient farm and grazing management by Veterinarians and owners in the study area.

Keywords: Hirna; Prevalence; Fasciola; Small Ruminant

Introduction

Ethiopia possess the largest livestock population in Africa, with an estimated population of 7.8 million equines, 1 million camels, 47.5 million cattle, 39.6 million chickens, 26.1 million sheep and 21.7 million goat (CSA 2009).Small ruminants play a significant role in maintaining household stability by providing meat, milk, skin and wool, generate cash income and play traditional social and religious roles [1]. The small ruminants in Ethiopia are the dominant livestock, providing up to 63% of cash income and 23% of the food subsistence value obtained from livestock production .Sheep and goat population in the country and the huge potential therein; the productivity per animal and the contribution of this sub-sector to the national economy is relatively low due to multitude of constraining factors including malnutrition, diseases, improper health care and other management problems [2].

Both infectious and parasitic diseases are common traits that affect productivity [2]. Parasitic infections pose a serious health threat and limit the productivity of livestock due to the associated morbidity and mortality. Vast numbers of parasitic diseases are incriminated to play a detrimental role in hampering small ruminant production leading to serious economic loss. Helminthiasis, especially Parasitic Gastro- Enteritis (PGE) constitutes a serious health problem and limitation to the productivity of small ruminants throughout the world due to the associated morbidity, mortality, and cost of treatment and control measures [3].

Gastro-intestinal helminthiasis is considered as one of the major parasitic problem that constrained livestock improvement programs in Ethiopia. One of the helminthiasis that causes immense direct and indirect losses especially in domestic ruminants is fasciolosis. Fasciolosis is one of the most prevalent helminths infections of small ruminants in different parts of the world and an economically important zoonotic disease of domestic livestock, especially cattle, sheep, and goat, as well as occasionally man. Fasciolosis is a disease of sheep, goat, and cattle but occasionally affects humans, thus considered as a zoonotic infection [4]. According to [5,6] the taxonomic classification of the organisms that cause fasciolosis is presented as follows: Phylum:- Platyhelminthes; Class:-Trematode; Sub-class- Deigned; Super Family:- Fasciolidea; Genus:- Fasciola; Species:- Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantic. The disease is caused by digenean trematodes of the genus Fasciola, commonly referred to as liver flukes. The two species most commonly implicated as the etiological agents of fasciolosis are Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantic (family Fasciolidae). Fasciola hepatica has a worldwide distribution but predominates in temperate zones while Fasciola gigantica is found on most continents, primarily in tropical regions.

The snails of the family Lymnaesidae transmit both F. hepatica and F.gigantica. Infestation with fasciolosis is usually associated with grazing wet land and drinking from the snail infesting watering places [7].

The life cycle of Fasciola spp. is a typical of Digenetic trematodes. Eggs laid by the adult parasite in the bile ducts of their hosts pass into the duodenum with the bile. The eggs then leave the host through the faces. At this stage, eggs are still not embryonated, further development to maturation taking approximately two weeks [8].

Pathogenesis of fasciolosis varies according to the parasitic development phases: parenchymal and biliary phases. The parenchymal phase occurs during migration of flukes through the liver parenchyma and is associated with liver damage and hemorrhage. The biliary phase coincides with parasite residence in the bile ducts and results from the haematophagic activity of the adult flukes and from the damage to the bile duct mucosa by their cuticular spines [9].

Clinically, fasciolosis is often seen as a chronic wasting disease. In cattle, sub-acute or acute outbreaks occasionally occur, whereas in sheep and goats, acute and subacute diseases are more frequent. The clinical signs of acute disease are characterized by sudden deaths, weakness, anemia, and dyspnea. Subacute and chronic fasciolosis is characterized by progressive loss of condition, anemia, hypoalbuminemia, and emaciation, pallor of the mucous membranes, submandibular edema, and ascites. In milder infections clinical signs may or may not be readily observed, however, a decreased appetite and interference with post-absorptive metabolism of protein, carbohydrates and minerals, may have a significant effect on production [10]. Liver fluke infection in lambs and kids is characterized by anemia, edema, weight loss, and death [11].

Apart from the presence of typical clinical signs, suggestive hematological and biochemistry findings, typical macroscopic and histological findings the laboratory confirmation may be depend mostly of fecal sedimentation tests, serology tests (ELISA) and possibly in some regions of the world PCR tests were used for diagnosis of fasciolosis [12].

The treatment recommended depends on the nature of the disease and some of the available anthelmintic are not effective against immature fluke and so are not recommended in acute fluke outbreaks. Chemotherapy with drugs remains the most cost-effective way of treating parasitic diseases, and is usually at the heart of any major control campaign. Compared to environmental engineering, drug treatment is very cheap [13].

Several control methods against ruminant fasciolosis are available and either be used independently and as a combination of two or more of them. These methods involve reduction in the number of intermediate snail hosts by chemical or biological means, strategic application of anthelmintic, reduction in the number of snails by drainage, fencing, and other management practices, and reduction in the risk of infection by planned grazing management [14].

Control of parasitic diseases is crucial to improve the productivity of the animals. In most fasciolosis endemic areas, the control of the intermediate snail host population offers a good opportunity for the reduction of transmission and is generally effective when combined with one or more other methods such as chemotherapy or environmental sanitation. Although eradication of the snail hosts is the most effective method of total fluke controls this, however, is often very difficult in low-lying, wet areas with a mild climate. Other useful methods of fluke control include biological control of the intermediate host, fencing the waterlogged area and so on.

Draining swamps, building sewage systems, and providing clean water supplies are used to control water-borne /including snail borne/ helminths but it is very expensive compare to chemotherapy [13].

Less frequent strategic treatments with a possible yearly rotation of anthelmintic or anthelmintic combinations that are effective against both immature and adult flukes has been reported to provide the best method of successful control of fasciolosis [15].

The temperature, rainfall, and altitude of the study area are also favorable for the development of the intermediate host and Fasciola species. The objectives of this study are:

• To determine the current prevalence of small ruminant fasciolosis in Tullo Woreda, Western Hararghe Zone, Ethiopia.

• To assess the fauna of intermediate snail hosts in grazing and watering points.

• To assess the potential risk factors associated with fasciolosis.

Materials and Methods

Study area

The study was conducted in peasant association sectional study was conducted from November 2014 to June 2015 in and around Hirna town of Tullo districts which is located 371km from Finfine in eastern direction, 45km from chiro zonal town. The area is mainly covered by an irregular topography with depression, numerous Chain Mountains, flat lands, scattered trees, and dense shrubs of vegetation. The woreda characterized by main season’s in a year. The dry season (bega) which extends from January to the ends of April and long rain, season (keremt) that extends from July to the ends of September. The district has mean annual temperature ranging from 180c-260c and mean annually rainfall ranging from 550m-800m.a.s.l (above sea level). The agro-ecological zone of the district highland (dega) 40%, amid high land (weynedega) 57% and 3% kola. The topography of the district is medium high land 1500m.a.s.l, high land 1500-2500 and very high land >2500m.a.s.l and relative humidity 21.9%-65%. Climate conditions of altitude is 1500-3100m.a.s.l and the soil type of the district are clay 43%, sand 55% and silt soil 2%.

Study design

A cross-sectional type of study was used to determine the prevalence of fasciolosis. It involves categorization of the study population according to their specific geographic origin (PAS), Body Condition Score (BCS), sex, species and age to estimate the prevalence of fasciolosis and assess the associated potential risk factors.

Study population: The study population consists of sheep and goats of local breed with different age, sex, and body condition category of small holders in mixed crop-livestock from randomly selected peasant association (PAs) of Tullo district. Animals were kept in small flocks of three to five animals per household and were used mainly for income generation and meat production. As in many parts of the country, the feed sources were natural grazing and crop residues with minimum extra supplement and health intervention. Moreover, the quality and supply of feed resources were seasonally variable, the problem being serious in the dry season.

Sample size determination: To determine the sample size, a prevalence rate of 50% was used. The required sample size for the study were determined by the formula given in [32] with 95% confidence interval, 5% desired absolute precision,

N = 1.96² x Pexp (1-Pexp) / d²

where n= required sample size, Pexp= expected prevalence, D= desired absolute precision. Accordingly, 384 shoat animals sampled from peasant associations of Tullo District.

Sampling method and procedure: Fecal samples were collected directly from the rectum for coprological examination, of each sheep and goat using disposable plastic gloves and placed in clean screw -capped universal bottle and each sample was clearly labelled with species, age, sex, sampled site and body condition score and processed. Faecal samples were preserved with 10% formalin solution to avoid the eggs developing and hatching and the sample was forwarded to Hirna veterinary Regional Laboratory

Study methodology

Coprological study: Coproscopic examination performed by simple sedimentation technique; the pellet or feces was crushed with pistil and mortar then mixed with water after that filter by sieve to another container and stayed for few minutes and discarded the supernatant then put on the slide and examined under the 10-x magnification.

Sedimentation technique: A spoonful of feces thoroughly mixed with 30ml of tap water on container; suspension was poured through tea strainer on another container and left for 10 min. The supernatant was removed and washed by water this step repeated until the solutions become cleared. Finally, small quantity of the deposit was taken using a pipette and put on microscope slide, a cover slip was applied and examined microscopically under the 10x magnification power.

Data analysis

Data and information about small ruminants’ fasciolosis were entered into Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and analyzed by SPSS version 20.0 software. Descriptive statistics were summarized. The prevalence was calculated for all associated risk factors as the number of infected individuals divided by the number of individuals sampled multiplied by 100. Factors thought to be associated with the prevalence of Fasciolosis infection were analyzed by Pearson’s chi-square test to account for confounding and interaction between variables. In the analyses, the confidence level was held at 95% and P-value less than 0.05 was considered as significant.

Results

Out of 384 fecal samples taken from shoats, the coprologicall examination result showed, an overall prevalence of 32.03% (123). The specific prevalence of fasciolosis in this study was 33.9% and 29.5% in sheep and goats respectively (Table 2). Kebele, age, sex, species, and body condition scores were considered as the potential risk factors for the occurrence of fasciolosis in the study area.

The present study shows that there is a significant difference (p<0.05) on the prevalence of shoat fasciolosis in different Kebeles of. Among this kebele where the highest prevalence was observed in Odabelina (49.1%) followed by Lubudhekeb (41.7%) (Table 1).The result indicated that 30.7% observed in male of small ruminants, which was the lowest prevalence when compared with the prevalence of fasciolosis in female small ruminants, which was 32.9% (Table 3).