Authors : B.M. Ulayi , B. Umaru-sule and S. Adamu
Abstract: In a study to determine the prevalence of liver fluke infections in cattle, a total of 350 gall bladders, altogether, were harvested from 191 bulls and 159 cows slaughtered at Zaria abattoir within a period of two months. The contents of the gall bladders were analyzed using sedimentation technique for presence of the eggs of Fasciola and Dicrocoelium species and, possibly, the adult parasites. Two species of these worms were encountered, namely, Fasciola gigantica and Dicrocoelium hospes. Generally, the prevalence of the infection with liver flukes was 37.1%. Prevalence of the infection in female animals was 52.8%, while that in the males was 24.1%. Dicrocoelium hospes was found to occur with a higher prevalence (35.4%) when compared with that (1.7%) of Fasciola gigantica. Dicrocoelium hospes was also found to occur more in female animals (prevalence, 51.6%) than in the male counterparts (prevalence, 22%). On the other hand, prevalence (2.1%) of the infection with Fasciola gigantica was higher in the bulls than that (1.3%) in the cows. Only 3 cattle were found to have mixed infection of the 2 parasites (prevalence, 0.86%). It was concluded from this study that the prevalence of infection with liver flukes remains high in Zaria and could be one of the sources of economic losses being incurred in the livestock industry in this part of Nigeria.
B.M. Ulayi , B. Umaru-sule and S. Adamu , 2007. Prevalence of Dicrocoelium hospes and Fasciola gigantica Infections in Cattle at Slaughter in Zaria, Nigeria . Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 6: 1112-1115.