Liver fluke infections in livestock in Borno State, Nigeria.

Abstract

A survey was conducted on the prevalence of Fasciola gigantica and Dicrocoelium hospes eggs in gall bladders of cattle and small ruminants (sheep and goats) slaughtered between November 1987 and December 1988 in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. Prevalence rates of 42.7% and 5.7% were recorded for F. gigantica and D. hospes eggs, respectively, in 246 cattle and 718 sheep and goats examined. Out of the 246 cattle examined, 52 (21.1%), 45 (18.3%) and 8 (3.3%) excreted eggs of F. gigantica, D. hospes and of the two species respectively. For sheep and goats, the prevalence of egg excretion was 28 (3.9%) and 13 (1.8%) for F. gigantica and D. hospes respectively. Excretion of a mixture of eggs of the two parasites was not recorded in sheep and goats. This is the first time the prevalence of liver flukes has been reported in small ruminants located within Borno State of Nigeria.