Epidemiological Studies of Fasciola Gigantica in Cattle in Zaria, Nigeria Using Coprology and Serology

Fasciolosis is an important helminth disease of livestock and other ruminants. A cross sectional study to determine the prevalence of Fasciola gigantica in cattle was carried out in 9 randomly selected farms and 1 slaughter house between February and May 2012. Faecal and blood samples were collected from 186 cattle in the farms and 200 cattle at slaughter. The faecal samples were analysed using the formol ether sedimentation technique and the blood by Indirect ELISA kit (Bio-X-Diagnostic, ID VET Jemelle-Belgium) to detect F. gigantica eggs and antibodies to F. gigantica antigens respectively. Of the 200 faecal samples collected at slaughter, 39(19.5%) had F. gigantica eggs; as compared to 27 (14.5%) positives out of the 186 samples collected from the farms; giving an overall prevalence rate of 66 (17.1%). There was no significant difference (P>0.05) between prevalence of infection of cattle sampled in the farms and slaughter house. 23 (11.5%) of the sera prepared from the 200 blood samples obtained at slaughter had antibodies to F. hepatica antigens, as against 5(2.6%) for sera from 186 blood samples collected in the farms; giving an overall seroprevalence of 28(7.3%). There was significant difference (P< 0.05) between infection at slaughter and on farms. Out of the 200 cattle from slaughter, 20(10.0%) had F. gigantica eggs and also were seropositive for F. hepatica antigens, and of the 186 cattle from farms only 5(2.7%) that had Fasciola eggs and were also seropositive for F. hepatica antigens. Both at slaughter and on farms, infection was more prevalent in females than in males. The overall prevalence for females using coprology and ELISA were 19.3% (41/212) and 7.5% (16/212) respectively. The respective values for males were 13.7% (24/174) and 6.89% (12/174). However, the difference in the prevalence of females and males obtained was not statistically significant (P>0.05). No statistical difference was observed in breed prevalence. This study has established F. gigantica prevalence of 17.1% and 7.3% by coprological and serological examinations of faeces and blood of cattle in Zaria. It is recommended that cattle should be dewormed regularly and further serological screening be embarked in other Local Government Areas of Kaduna State, so as to know the current status of F. gigantica infection in cattle.