PREVALENCE OF FASCIOLA GIGANTICA EGGS IN SHEEP AND GOATS AND ON SALAD VEGETABLES IN ZARIA AND ENVIRONS, NIGERIA
PREVALENCE OF FASCIOLA GIGANTICA EGGS IN SHEEP AND GOATS AND ON SALAD VEGETABLES IN ZARIA AND ENVIRONS, NIGERIA
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Date
2014-09
Authors
ESONU, Obinna Daniel
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Abstract
Fasciolosis is a worldwide parasitic disease common in ruminants, especially cattle,
buffaloes, sheep, goats and swine. It may, however, affect humans if they consume
contaminated vegetables or raw and improperly cooked liver from an animal infected with
Fasciola gigantica. To determine the prevalence of Fasciola gigantica eggs in sheep and
goats and on salad vegetables, four hundred (400) faecal and 180 salad vegetable samples
were collected between July and September 2013 within Zaria and environs, Nigeria and
examined using the formal ether sedimentation technique and Sodium Chloride flotation
methods. The overall prevalence of F. gigantica eggs in ruminants was 13.0%, with sheep
having a higher prevalence (17.0%) than goats (9.0%). Sheep and goats of greater than two
years had significantly (p<0.05) higher prevalence of 22.2% and 20.0% of F. gigantica eggs
respectively as compared to a lower prevalence of 8.1% and 2.4% in the younger ones
between 0 to 2 years. The difference in prevalence of F. gigantica eggs between the adult and
young ruminants was statistically significant (p<0.05). The prevalence of F. gigantica eggs
was significantly (p<0.05) higher in animals with poor body condition (34.0%) than those
with medium and good body condition with prevalence of 11.3% and 1.8% respectively.
Also, higher prevalence of F. gigantica eggs was observed in female sheep (24.2%) and goats
(12.1%) than in male sheep (10.5%) and goats (1.7%). A significantly (p=0.001) higher
prevalence (18.5%) of F. gigantica eggs was observed in ruminants on non-settled farms than
those on settled farms (7.5%). Higher prevalence of F. gigantica eggs was observed in
ruminants reared by Fulani pastoralists (18.5%) than those on privately owned (8.0%) and
Institutional farms (7.0%). The prevalence of F. gigantica eggs was 4.8%, 13.7% and 27.0%
for ruminants with low, mild and heavy infections of other helminth eggs respectively. No F.
gigantica egg was seen in sheep and goats that were not infected with other helminth eggs.
The overall prevalence of F. gigantica eggs on salad vegetables was 2.2%, with lettuce
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(Lactuca sativa) having a higher prevalence (6.7%) than onions (Allium cepa) (3.3%) and
carrot (Daucus carota var sativus) (3.3%). No F. gigantica egg was found on cabbage
(Brassica oleracea var capitata), tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) and cucumber
(Cucumis sativus). Higher prevalence of F. gigantica eggs was observed on salad vegetables
sold in Sabon gari market (6.7%), followed by Giwa (3.3%) and Danmagaji markets (3.3%).
No F. gigantica egg was found on salad vegetables sold in Zaria city, Shika and Samaru
market. This study has shown the prevalence of F. gigantica eggs in sheep and goats in farms
and on salad vegetables at sale within Zaria and its environs. The presence of F. gigantic
eggs on the vegetables is an indication that the vegetables are potential source of human
infection if the snail intermediate hosts are present in the study area.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD
OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE
IN
VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH AND
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE,
FACULTY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
NIGERIA
SEPTEMBER, 2014
Keywords
PREVALENCE,, FASCIOLA GIGANTICA,, EGGS,, SHEEP,, GOATS,, SALAD,, VEGETABLES,, ZARIA,, NIGERIA