Prevalence of fascioliasis in cattle slaughtered at Maiduguri Municipal Abattoir, Borno State, Nigeria

Abstract

Bovine fascioliasis is a parasitic disease caused by trematodes usually Fasciola gigantica and rarely Fasciola hepatica in the tropics. The study determined the seasonal prevalence of fascioliasis and its relationship among breeds, ages and sexes of cattle slaughtered at Maiduguri municipal abattoir. A total of three hundred (300) faecal and gall bladder samples were collected from June 2015-May 2016 and examined using modified McMaster sedimentation techniques to detect Fasciola spp eggs. An overall prevalence of 13.67% was obtained. The prevalence was higher in dry season (15.3%) than rainy season (12.0%) although not statistically significant (p>0.05). Breed disposition also indicates high prevalence in Red Bororo (6.0%), followed by White Fulani (3.7%) and least in Cross Breeds (2.3%) with insignificant association (p>0.05). Age specific prevalence revealed in adult (8.3%), (12.3%) and in the calf (3.7%), (3.0%) respectively in both seasons. Based on sex, prevalence of fascioliasis varies significantly (p<0.05) between female (7.0%) and male (5.0%) during rainy season, while no significant association (p>0.05) was observed during dry season between female (9.0%) and male (6.3%). Likelihood of infestation with fasciola varies significantly (p<0.05) between breeds during dry season, whereas no statistical significant association (p>0.05) was observed between ages and sexes of cattle in both seasons. In conclusion, Fasciola infestation was prevalent in cattle slaughtered at the abattoir. The need for grazing land in form of ranches for herdsmen as well as snail control programme with the use of flukicides to reduce snail population in the study area is advocated.

Keywords: Fascioliasis; cattle; prevalence; abattoir; infestation; Maiduguri.