Study on the Prevalence and Gross Pathology of Liver Fluke Infestation in Sheep in and Around Quetta District, Pakistan

Abstract

| The study was conducted to determine the prevalence of fascioliasis in sheep in Quetta district from January to June 2007. Two hundred and fifty liver samples along with gall bladder and bile ducts were collected from sheep. Over all prevalence of liver fluke infestation in sheep was recorded as 30% in young and adult and 32% in aged sheep. Out of these positive samples Fasciola hepatica was found 50% and Fasciola gigantica 10% in case of young whereas in adults 20% with fasciola hepatica and 14%with Fasciola gigantica and in aged sheep the prevalence was recorded as 33.33% and 13.33% with fasciola hepatica and fasciola gigantica respectively. Variable degree of gross lesions were noted in affected livers included cholangitis (63.15%), biliary obstruction (57.89%), fibrosis (68.42%), hyperplasia (60%), haemorrhages (47.36%), enlargement (52.63%), fibrinous exudates (63.15%) and oedema (57.0%) in sheep during the study period. From this study it is clear that fascioliasis is a serious problem for sheep in Pakistan with highest percentage of Fasciola hepatica followed by Fasciola gigantica which causes damaging of liver with variable degrees of inflammation, haemorrhages, hyperplasia and enlargement of livers.

Overview of Seasonal Prevalence of Liver Fluke & Rumen Fluke Infestation in Cattle and Buffalo of Western Chitwan, Nepal

“…This result was in contradiction with the findings (Dhakal, and Nepali, 1984) and (Sardar, et al, 2016) who found adult more susceptible to infestation. Young animals are more susceptible to parasitic infection than adult (Khan et al, 2017). This higher infestation of parasite in the young can be due the inadequate immunity against the parasite than that of the adult.…”

Gastrointestinal Helminthic Challenges in Sheep and Goats in Afro-Asian Region: A Review

“…In general, pathology of the disease is similar in sheep and goats. In sheep common lesions of livers were variable degree of cholangitis, biliary obstruction, fibrosis, hyperplasia, hemorrhages, enlargement, fibrinous exudation and oedema (Khan et al, 2015). In goats, affected livers were enlarged with hemorrhagic spots, hepatic bile duct protruding and engorged (Islam et al, 2016).…”

Pathomorphological Studies on Hepatic Disorders in Sheep

“…In the present study, degenerative changes comprised of hepatic cell swelling (23.81%), hydropic degeneration (18.09%), fatty changes (8.57%) and coagulative necrosis (18.09%). Khan et al, (2015) recorded a higher occurrence of hepatic cell swelling with 52.63 per cent. Hassanein et al, (2017) recorded a lower occurrence of hydropic degeneration at 0.002 per cent.…”

“…In the present study, circulatory disturbances in liver comprised of congestion (73.33%), haemorrhages (21.90%) and thrombosis (0.95%). Bhavyapriyanka (2017) recorded a lower occurrence of 2.24 per cent of congestion whereas Khan et al, (2015) recorded a higher occurrence of 47.36 per cent of haemorrhages. Congestion was found to occur frequently in sheep belonging to nomadic herds which could be attributed exposure to various toxic agents through ingestion of environmental toxicants or plants during migratory period.…”