INVESTIGATION INTO FASCIOLA INFECTION IN SNAILS AND CATTLE ON THE MAMBILLA PLATEAU, TARABA STATE, NIGERIA

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Department of Medicine

ABSTRACT
The objectives of this study were to investigate the occurrence of Fasciola infection in cattle from field and slaughter slab sampling, to survey water bodies for presence of snails involved as intermediate hosts in the transmission of Fasciola and to ascertain the knowledge of cattle owners on the mode of transmission of the infection on the Mambilla plateau, Sardauna LGA of Taraba state. This study was conducted between June, 2013 and November, 2013. A total of 515 cattle of both sexes and ages were sampled from Gembu and Nguroje slaughter slabs. Liver samples were examined for the presence of flukes while gallbladder and faecal samples were collected and analysed for the presence of Fasciola species eggs from each of the animals. Adult flukes were found in 92 (17.9%) liver samples while Fasciola eggs were present in the gallbladders of 147 (28.5%) and faecal samples of 141 (27.4%) of slaughtered cattle. In the field survey, faecal samples were collected from 1000 cattle and analysed. Two hundred and eighty samples (28%) were positive for Fasciolaspecieseggs. The occurrence of Fasciola species infection from both field and slaughter slab survey had no significant association with age, sex and geographical location of slaughter slabs (p>0.05). There was however, a significant (p<0.05) association between detection of adult Fasciolaspeciesin the liver and the presence of eggs in the gallbladder. Histopathological findings in the liver revealed marked extensive haemorrhages, necrosis and congestion of the central vein while sloughing of bile duct epithelium accompanied by fibrous connective tissue infiltration were also seen.Forty eight (48) aquatic habitats in eleven wards of Sardauna L.G.A. that served as drinking points for cattle were sampled for fresh water snails. From the aquatic habitats surveyed for fresh water snails, 158 Bulinus species were sampled from one pond which viii contained many of that species of snails. None of them was positive for larvae of Fasciola species. Fifty (50) questionnaires were administered to herdsmen and cattle owners to ascertain their knowledge of the mode of transmission of the infection. It revealed that none (100%) of them knew how the infection isbeing transmitted. This study has revealed that active infection with Fasciola species is prevalent in cattle on the Mambilla plateau but little is known about its mode of transmission in that area.