Fascioliasis Status of Cattle Slaughtered in Swali Market Abattoir, Bayelsa State

Abstract

Fascioliasis causes stunted growth, lower milk and meat production and liver damage in infected animals. Two hundred and eighty-six (286) cattle, 141 males and 145 females, of different breeds slaughtered at Swali market Abattoir in Bayelsa State were examined by carefully incising the liver along the biliary and the infected livers were squeezed with gloved hand and the flukes were carefully removed and placed into bottles with formol-saline. Consent was obtained from the cattle rearers before sampling; and information about the breed, sex and age of the cattle examined were obtained orally at the point of sampling and recorded against each sample bottle. Chi-square (χ²) test was used to test any relationship between the prevalence of fascioliasis and breed, sex and age of cattle examined at 0.05% significant levels using SPSS version 23. An overall prevalence of 47.56% was recorded for infection with fascioliasis. Infection rates based on breeds examined revealed white Fulani to be most infected (46.32%), while Bayelsa palm showed the least infection (2.21%). Female cattle recorded higher prevalence of fascioliasis (56.55%) than males (38.30%). Higher prevalence of infection was recorded in cattle ≤4 years (58.97%) than in those >4years (33.85%). Although the prevalence of infections by breed, sex and age of the cattle varied, the study showed statistically significant association (p<0.05). This study result depicts favorable environment for the thriving of the snail intermediate host. An integrated approach towards parasite control which should be farm specific should be employed in the study area.