Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica are two trematodes (liver flukes) that cause water- and food-borne disease Fasciolosis. Many animals are involved in the life cycle of the Fasciola spp., such as sheep, cattle, and camels, and humans are the definitive host. This work investigated the prevalence of Fasciola among imported and local slaughtered sheep and the relation between infection rate and seasons of the year. A total of 720,290 local and imported sheep (251,701 and 468,489, respectively) were slaughtered in a Jeddah slaughterhouse (Western region of Saudi Arabia) over the periods of 2017-2018, 2018-2019, and 2019-2020. In the three years of inspection, the infection rate at slaughter was higher among imported than local sheep. In 2017-2018, both local and imported sheep had the highest level of infection in the spring and the lowest in the winter. However, in 2018-2019, the highest rate of infection for both was documented in the summer and the lowest in the winter. Lastly, in 2019-2020, the highest rate of infection for local sheep was observed in the summer of 2020 and the lowest rate of infection was observed in the spring of 2020. Among imported sheep, the highest rate of infection was in the summer and the lowest was in winter for both 2019 and 2020. To control this disease, there is the need to apply for successful integrated programs and practice adaptive management techniques.

Fascioliasis, caused by Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica, is considered one of the most important helminthes diseases among both humans and animals. The use of triclabendazole (TCBZ) as the only antihelminthic drug against fascioliasis faced recent problems being of many side effects and development of the drug resistance by the parasites. Given the widespread use of ginger (Zingiber officinale) in many traditional medicines and the various metabolic properties, this study aims to investigate the in vitro antihelminthic activity of Z. officinale ethanol extracts on F. gigantica in comparison to TCBZ. Fifty-four live adult F. gigantica worms were divided into nine groups of six in each, including positive control (G1), negative control (G2), triclabendazole sulfoxide (TCBZSO) of 20μg/ml (G3), ginger extract of 5, 25 and 50 mg/ml (G4, G5 and G6, respectively) and combined TCBZSO with ginger extract of 5, 25 and 50 mg/ml (G7, G8 and G9, respectively). The worm motility scores, survival index and histological examination were utilized to further analyze the effect of treatments on the worms' morphology. Results indicated a marked decrease in worms' motility treated with ginger extracts compared to TCBZSO group. The observed decrease was positively correlated to both time and concentration. Histological examination showed that a higher concentration of ginger extract alone or in combination with TCBZSO caused severe tegumental alterations, more than those observed in TCBZSO treatment alone. In conclusion, the results strongly confirm the plausible development of ginger-based antihelminthic drug against F. gigantica infection.

Hepatic fascioliasis is an important parasitic disease responsible for morbidity and mortality in many domestic ruminants, especially sheep, goats, and cattle, due to Fasciola (F.) hepatica and F. gigantica. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of fascioliasis in sheep slaughtered in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and to describe the morphological and histopathological changes in the liver. A total of 109,253 sheep slaughtered between July 2017 and July 2018 were screened to assess the prevalence of fascioliasis. The livers were grossly investigated for Fasciola infection and morphological changes. Tissue samples were collected for proper histopathological examinations. Livers of local and imported sheep represented infection rates of 0.67% and 2.12%, respectively, and the highest infection rate was in the spring season. Macroscopically, the affected liver showed hepatomegaly, thickened capsule and discoloration with necrosis, fibrosis, dilation of the bile duct, engorgement of the gallbladder and enlargement of the portal lymph nodes. Microscopic examination showed fibrotic thickening, calcification and hyperplasia of the bile ducts filled with debris, as well as massive hemorrhagic foci. Histopathological examinations of the infected liver showed a central vein region with disturbed parenchyma cells, focal lymphocytic infiltration, elongated endothelial cells, blood sinusoids that showed enlarged Kupffer cells, patches of lysed or necrotic hepatocytes, eosinophil infiltration, lymphocytes and proliferating fibroblast, thickening of hepatic artery and arteriolar walls. We concluded that fascioliasis among sheep slaughtered in Jeddah is not uncommon. The identified histopathological changes in the liver of infected sheep reflect tissue damage, which can lead to significant economic losses for the animals.