Seasonal prevalence, body condition score and risk factors of bovine fasciolosis in South Africa

Abstract

Fasciolosis is an important zoonotic disease that is responsible for a significant loss in food resource and animal productivity. The objectives of this study were to determine the seasonal prevalence and risk factors associated with Fasciola infection in cattle. The results were obtained by coprology, antemortem and post-mortem survey of three abattoirs (HTPA1, n = 500, HTPA2, n = 400, and LTPA, n = 220). The seasonal prevalence of Fasciola infection was 10.4%, 12.8% and 10.9%, during summer, 11.2%, 10.8% and 8.6%, during autumn, 9.8%, 6.5% and 5.9% during winter and 8.2%, 7.8% and 5.9%, during spring in the three abattoirs HTPA1, HTPA and LTPA respectively. There was a significant association (p < 0.05) between the intensity of infection and body condition score (BCS) of cattle at each abattoir. Factors such as age [HTPA1 (OR = 3.6, CI = 1.2, 10.2), and LTPA (OR = 3.8, CI= 2.4, 6.1)], sex [LTPA (OR = 4.2, CI= 2.5, 7.0)], breed [HTPA2 (OR = 2.3, CI = 1.3, 4.1) and LTPA (OR = 2.5, CI= 1.3, 5.0)] and BCS had significant (p < 0.01–0.001) influence on the prevalence of fasciolosis. In conclusion, the infection with Fasciola spp was higher in the summer than in the winter; a positive association was established between the prevalence of fasciolosis and poor body condition in study animals. This study, therefore, suggests that fasciolosis could be causing substantial production losses, mainly due to cattle weight loss and liver condemnation.

Trematodiasis occurrence in cattle along the Progo River, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

“…A previous study by Jaja et al . [35] reported a significant correlation between BCS and infection intensity, suggesting that poor body condition might be a direct result of fasciolosis pathogenesis. Considering the important role of homeostasis in the liver and all metabolisms of animals, loss of BCS in infected cattle could be a result of Fasciola infection and might be correlated with metabolic disorders [36].…”

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

“…The explanatory variables (potential risk factors) of interest included in the model analysis were animal species (cattle/buffaloes), sex (male/female), age, feeding system type, frequency of anthelmintic administration (regular/irregular), housing hygiene, and season (summer, autumn, winter and spring).The animals were categorized into two age groups; animal ≤ 3 years were termed as young while those > 3 years were termed old. (Jaja et al, 2017). Housing hygiene was classified into three groups according to the cleanliness of the bedding and environment of the animal's housing into 1= good hygiene, 2= moderate hygiene and 3= bad hygiene.…”

Prevalence of Haemonchus contortus Infections in Sheep and Goats in Nyagatare District, Rwanda

“…Gastrointestinal helminthes cause significant economic losses of small ruminant enterprises through increased susceptibility of animals to other infections, morbidities, and mortalities, especially in heavily parasitized animals and in young animals. Furthermore, they lead to forced culling, carcass, and organ condemnations [ 9 ], increased cost of veterinary treatments, decreased weight gain, reduced milk production and reproductive capacity, decreased work capacity, diminished food intake, reduced animal growth rates, and lower weight gains and treatment and management costs [ 8 – 12 ]. Among these gastrointestinal helminths, nematodes are the leading cause of ill-health and production losses in sheep and goats worldwide [ 7 , 10 , 13 ].…”