Prevalence of Small Ruminants Fasciolosis in Mekelle, Tigrai Regional State, Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

Fasciolosis is one of the most economically important and widespread parasitic diseases of domestic animals. Accordingly, a cross sectional study was conducted in Mekelle, northern Ethiopia to assess the prevalence of small ruminants Fasciolosis. Fecal samples were collected from a total of 384 small ruminants comprising of 245 sheep and 139 goats and were examined by using the sedimentation technique to find out the eggs of Fasciola species. Out of the total, 384 examined fecal samples, 67 were found to be positive for Fasciolosis with an overall prevalence rate of 17.5 percent. The prevalence of Fasciolosis was higher in sheep (24.1%) as compared to goats (5.8%). There was a statistically significant difference (P=.00) among sheep and goats as regards to the occurrence of Fasciola spp. With body condition scores of the animals, Fasciolosis was statistical significant (P=.00) which was higher in animals with poor body scores followed by medium and good body conditions, respectively. However, the prevalence of Fasciolosis between males and females (P=.19) as well as young and adult animals (P=.92) was not statistically significant difference. The result among the origins of the animals also revealed that no statistically significance difference (P=.81). In conclusion, the burden of Fasciolosis still remains a great problem in the study area. Thus, we need for further investigation to study the impact of the disease on animal production and its economic values and requires integrated interventional strategies to be implemented to tackle such an economically important disease of small ruminants.