Epidemiological and ultrasonographic investigation of bovine fascioliasis in smallholder production system in Eastern Nile Delta of Egypt

Abstract

Regular updating of our knowledge on the epidemiological determinants of bovine fascioliasis is necessary to increase the awareness of the disease's significance and subsequently, improve the control measures. The objectives of this study were (1) to estimate the prevalence of bovine fascioliasis, and identify the association of epidemiological characteristics under traditional householders' production systems, (2) to describe the association between the clinical picture, Fasciola spp. egg count and hepatobiliary ultrasonography findings. In total, 270 faecal samples were examined microscopically for the presence or absence of Fasciola spp. egg, using the sedimentation-flotation method. Copro-positive animals were subjected to ultrasonographic examination. Overall prevalence of copro-positive animals was 27.4% (22.4-33.0%, 95% CI). The final multivariate analysis showed that there was a significant association between fascioliasis and animal species (P < 0.03), and administration of anthelmintic (P < 0.0001). Cattle have a less chance of being positive to Fasciola spp. by 0.55 (95% CI: 0.30 - 0.99) compared to water buffaloes. Administration of anthelmintic to animals on a regular basis decreased the risk of copro-positivity to Fasciola spp by 0.17 (95% CI: 0.07 - 0.36) compared to animals received anthelmintic on an irregular basis. Infected animals having different Fasciola spp. egg burden revealed different clinical symptoms associated with hepatobiliary changes on ultrasonographic examination ranged from normal hepatic parenchyma and bile system in low faecal egg load to hyperechogenic hepatic parenchyma, hyperechogenic with distal shadowing bile duct, and distended gallbladder in high faecal egg load of Fasciola spp. In conclusion, the prevalence of bovine fascioliasis is high under the traditional household's production system. Regular administration of anthelmintic significantly reduces the animal's chance of being copro-positive to Fasciola spp. Ultrasound poses a valuable prognostic technique for assessment of bovine fascioliasis.

Prevalence and Diffusion of Gastrointestinal Parasite Infections in Swamp Water Buffalo (Bubalus Bubalis) Populations from Marshlands of Iraq

“…The high rate of infection is caused because of the lack of appropriate parasite control program. This is in agreement with El Damaty et al 2018 [31], who found that administrating anthelmintic to animals on a regular basis decreased the risk of copro-positivity to Fasciola spp. by 0.17% in comparison to animals that received irregular doses of anthelmintic.…”

“…Additionally, buffaloes are raised on marshy pastures with high humidity, which favours the growth and multiplication of parasites as well as their vectors [9]. This remarkable finding is in accordance with the findings of El Damaty et al, 2018 [31] who reported a high prevalence of fascioliasis (33%) in water buffalo in Egypt. The authors attributed this high prevalence that water buffalo is a swamp animal prefer to frequently swim in the fresh Nile water, and therefore, it is frequently exposed to the intermediate host of Fasciola spp.…”

“…Later, El Damaty et al, (2018) observed that cattle have less chance of being infected with Fasciola spp. compared to water buffaloes [31] in Delta of Egypt. The high liability of water buffaloes to be infected with GI parasites may be attributed to factors such as the level of host immunity, and the stage of parasite infection.…”

Characterization of Foot and Mouth Disease Virus Serotype SAT-2 in Swamp Water Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) under the Egyptian Smallholder Production System

“…However, there has been little research on FMD in domestic water buffaloes. The smallholder production system by traditional householders is a common livestock production system in Egypt, which is scattered throughout the country [18]. This traditional breeding system is typically used for small herds or small numbers of animals kept for subsistence or as a source of additional income by households.…”

Environmental Streptococcus uberis Associated with Clinical Mastitis in Dairy Cows: Virulence Traits, Antimicrobial and Biocide Resistance, and Epidemiological Typing

“…S. uberis is a well-known pathogen that causes bovine intramammary infections worldwide. Nonetheless, there are scant epidemiological data on S. uberis isolated from lactating cows in Egypt, especially in the smallholder production system, despite the fact that this extensive system type is the most common traditional livestock farming system among Egyptian farmers [49,50].…”