Fasciola hepatica and Associated Parasite, Dicrocoelium dendriticum in Slaughter Houses in Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Fasciola hepatica is a parasite of clinical and veterinary importance which causes fascioliasis that leads to reduction in milk and meat production. Bile samples were centrifuged at 1500 rpm for ten (10) minutes in a centrifuge machine and viewed microscopically to check for F. hepatica eggs. A total of 300 bile samples of cattle which included 155 males and 145 females were col-lected from the abattoir. Results were analyzed using chi-square (p > 0.05). The prevalence of F. gigantica and Dicrocoelium dentriticum is 33.0% (99) and 39.0% (117) respectively. Age prevalence of F. hepatica revealed that 0 -2 years (33.7%, 29 cattle) were more infected than 2 -4 years (32.7%, 70 cattle) while for D. dentriticum age 2 -4 years were more infected than 0 -2 years with prevalence of 40.2% (86) and 36.0% (31) respectively. No significant dif-ference (P > 0.05) existed in prevalence in ages of the cattle. Out of the 300 bile samples examined, 22.3% (67 cattle) were co-infected with F. hepatica and D. dendriticum. Males were more co-infected than females having a preva-lence of 24.5% (38 cattle) and 20.0% (29 cattle) respectively. Based on the age, samples of age 0 -2 years were more co-infected than those of age 2 -4 years with a prevalence of 23.3% (20 cattle) and 22.0% (47 cattle) respectively. The findings of this present study revealed that efforts to alleviate problems of animal health and productivity are yet to make any significant impact as this poses threat on human health. Investigation on the pattern of infections in cattle slaughtered should be strengthened.