Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2016; 4(3): 330-334
E-ISSN: 2320-7078
P-ISSN: 2349-6800
JEZS 2016; 4(3): 330-334
© 2016 JEZS
Received: 12-03-2016
Accepted: 13-04-2016
Sumbal Haleem
Department of Zoology, Kohat
University of Science and
Technology-26000, KPK,
Pakistan.
Shadab
Department of Zoology, Abdul
Wali Khan University Mardan,
KPK, Pakistan.
Faiza
Department of Zoology, Abdul
Wali Khan University Mardan,
KPK, Pakistan.
Sadaf Niaz
Department of Zoology, Abdul
Wali Khan University Mardan,
KPK, Pakistan.
Hameed Ur Rehman
Department of Chemistry, Kohat
University of Science and
Technology-26000, KPK,
Pakistan.
Shazeb Sajad
Department of Zoology, Kohat
University of Science and
Technology-26000, KPK,
Pakistan.
Naveeda Akhtar Qureshi
Department of Animal Science
Quaid e Azam University
Islamabad.
Muhammad Kabir
Lab of Carnivores Conservation
Quaid e Azam University
Islamabad.
Correspondence
Hameed Ur Rehman
Department of Chemistry, Kohat
University of Science and
Technology-26000, KPK,
Pakistan.
Prevalence of fascioliasis in cows and sheep in
district Mardan (KPK), Pakistan
Sumbal Haleem, Shadab, Faiza, Sadaf Niaz, Hameed Ur Rehman, Shazeb
Sajad, Naveeda Akhtar Qureshi and Muhammad Kabir
Abstract
Prevalence of fascioliasis (particularly Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica) in cows and sheep was
investigated in District Mardan of province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Pakistan. A total of 172 fecal
samples of cows and 339 of sheep were collected from December 2011 to April 2012. Over all
prevalence of fasciola parasites in cows and sheep was 25.00% and 11.50% respectively. The species
found in fecal samples of cows were: F. hepatica (13.95%), F. gigantica (5.81 %). The corresponding
values for sheep were 5.89%, 3.83% and 0.0 %. In month wise prevalence of F. hepatica and F.
gigantica was highest in January 23.5%, 11.76%, in cows and 11.2% and 6.25% in sheep. Its prevalence
was lowest in March 8.10%, 0.00% in cows and 2.04%, 0.00% in sheep. Over all Age wise prevalence
displays that adults were more infected by trematodes as compared to young ones. In adults the
prevalence of F. hepatica and F. gigantic were; 18.4%, 7.2% in cows and 3.7%, 4.2%in sheep. In young
the prevalence was 10.4%, 3.9% in cows and 11.1%, 4.2% in sheep. Gender wise prevalence shows
higher infection of trematodes in males as compared to females. The prevalence in male was 14.0%,
9.8% in cows and 6.1%, 6.1% in sheep. It is concluded that prevalence of trematodes parasites in cows
was higher than sheep, due to variance in feeding behaviors and hygienic surroundings of the both hosts.
Keywords: Fascioliasis, Cows, Sheep, District Mardan.
1. Introduction
Parasitism is one of the main problems upsetting diversity of mammalian hosts, particularly
sheep, goats, buffaloes, cattle and men. Parasitic diseases are one of the main hurdles in the
expansion of livestock production and industry throughout the world [1, 2]. The accompanying
economic losses are inflicted in form of low productivity, condensed product eminence, high
treatment expenses, and mortality [3]. In Pakistan the prevalence of parasite infestation is very
common and costs about 26.5 million rupees per annum to livestock industry [4]. The economic
influence of helminthic diseases on livestock incorporates mortality losses, morbidity losses
(measured in relations of less than optimum production of milk, meat and wool), improved
susceptibility to bacterial and viral diseases, and losses resulting from denunciation of
carcasses and organs, as well as the cost of drugs and veterinary care [5]. Among the trematods,
Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica causes substantial economic loses [6]. Veterinary
attentiveness lies in the fact that some of the animals may act as a reservoir of infection for
man [7-10]. Fascioliasis is now recognized as an emerging food borne zoonosis, with an assessed
17 million people infected with Fasciola universally and 180 million at risk of such infection
[11, 12]
. In Pakistan Fascioliasis is one of the major parasitic harms, as 50% of the livestock has
been reported to be infected with it [13]. Cows are economically very important as they provide
major part of meat and milk production. Milk production in infested animals can drop by as
much as 8% [13, 14]. Fasciola Species are important parasites and is subject for many scientific
investigations due to high prevalence rate, also due to economic loss. It is reported from
several parts of the world such as Burma [15, 16], it is also reported from diverse parts such as [1821]
.
Therefore, in this study, an effort was made to record the prevalence of fascioliasis in District
Mardan of province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), in Cows and Sheep, associated with the
influence of age and sex on the prevalence and with seasonal changes.
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2. Materials and Methods
2.1 Area of study
Study was directed for prevalence of Fascioliasis (particularly
F. hepatica and F. gigantica) in cows and sheep in District
Mardan, of province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) of Pakistan.
Mardan is the second most important district of the KPK,
known as city of hospitality and city of headquarters, located
at 34°12'0N 72°1'60E and an altitude of 283 m (928 ft) in the
south west of the district.
flourished. The methods for examination were direct smear
method and fecal floatation method [21, 22]
2.2 Sample collection and processing
To record the prevalence of Fasciola parasites in cows and
sheep, different towns of District Mardan were visited from
December 2011 to April 2012, to collect fecal samples. Each
sample was clearly labeled with animal age, sex and date of
collection. These samples were brought to the Parasitology
Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Shankar campus of
sciences, Abdul Wali khan University Mardan.
3. Results and Discussion
3.1 Overall prevalence
Overall prevalence of F. hepatica was higher followed by F.
gigantica. In case of cows 172 samples were examined, out of
which 24 were positive for F. hepatica (13.95%) and10 for F.
gigantica (5.81%) (figure.1).while 339 fecal samples of sheep
were examined, 20 were positive for F. hepatica (5.89%)
and13 for F. gigantica (3.83%) (figure.1) [23] testified only
8.50% incidence of fascioliasis in buffaloes and 6.95% in cows
from Karachi Pakistan. Similarly prevalence of fascioliasis as
9.40% in buffaloes and 8.00% in cattle was observed [24, 25]
conveyed 46.6% F. gigantica from water buffaloes in
Bangladesh. The variance might be owing to varied
environmental conditions and different geographical regions.
2.3 Parasitological examinations
The collected samples of cows and sheep were inspected by
direct examination methods for the eggs of Fasciola species
(particularly F. hepatica, F. gigantica). Prevalence of parasites
was documented month wise; age and sex were also
2.4 Statistical analysis
Microsoft excel 2010 was used to calculate the descriptive
statistics. Data collected were transferred to STATA version
8.0 (Stata corporation, texas, USA, 2007) for analysis by chisquare test. Variation in sex, age and months were analyzed.
Table 1: Overall prevalence of F. hepatica and F. gigantica in cows and sheep in district Mardan.
Parasites
F. hepatica
F. gigantica
Number of
samples examined
172
172
cows
Number of
infected samples
24
10
Prevalence in
percentage (%)
13.95%
5.81%
Fig 1: overall Prevalence of F. hepatica and F. gigantica in cows and
sheep in district Mardan.
3.2 Month wise prevalence
A total of 172 samples of cows, while 339 fecal samples of
sheep were inspected from December 2011 to April 2012 (5
months duration). Highest infection of F. hepatica (23.5%)
and F. gigantica (11.76%) were recorded in January in cows,
similarly (11.25%) and (6.25%) in sheep respectively. Lowest
prevalence of F. hepatica (8.10%) and F. gigantica (0.0%)
were found in March in cows and (2.0%) and (0.0%) in sheep
(table 2, 3) (figure 2, 5). These findings are agreed with
findings of [26, 27] reported that there are two most significant
factors manipulating the incidence of fasciolosis i.e
temperature and moisture for they affect the hatching of fluke
ova, viability of encysting cercaria and population of snails.
After rain fall highest infection was noted. Rains and incidence
of fasciolosis were also documented during the month of
January at low temperature. This may be owing to the
availability of water bodies after rainfall Lamnaeid host
population, which can tolerate severe conditions of cold [28-31].
Number of
samples examined
339
339
Sheep
Number of
infected samples
20
13
Prevalence in
percentage (%)
5.89%
3.83%
3.3 Age wise prevalence
It was observed that prevalence of fascioliasis were higher in
adult animals over the 3 years of age in cows and 1.5 in sheep
than young one. 1n adult prevalence of F. hepatica, F.
gigantica are 18.42%, 7.29% in cows and in sheep 11.18%,
and 4.27% respectively while in young’s the prevalence in
cows were 10.41%, 3.94% and 8.02%, 3.28% in sheep (table
2, 3) (figure 3, 6) [6]. Testified non-significantly higher
prevalence in adult buffaloes as compared to young ones,
while [32] found significantly higher infection in adult buffaloes
in Punjab. The higher prevalence may be due to long time
acquaintance of adult animals to infective larvae as compared
to young one. The prevalence of infection, cruelty of lesions
and number of lesions increased with progression of age in
cattle [33].
3.4 Sex wise prevalence
It was notified that prevalence of f. hepatica and f. gigantica is
lower in females than males. Prevalence observed in females
was 13.59%, 2.91% in cows and 5.69%, 2.07% in sheep
respectively. While high prevalence was found in males
14.80%, 9.85% in cows and 6.16%, 6.16% in sheep
respectively (table 2, 3) (figure 4, 7).These results shows
similarity with the findings of [6, 32, 33], who also reported nonsignificant prevalence difference between buffaloes on gender
basis. The reasons seem to be interrelated with special practice
of keeping females under improved management and feeding
conditions in disparity to males which are generally le lose to
graze freely. This may be credited to difference in animal
breed and geographical conditions.
~ 331 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies
Table 2: Months, age and sex wise prevalence of F. hepatica in cows and sheep in District Mardan:
Parameter
Months
Age
(years)
Gender
Total
Dec 2011
Jan 2012
Feb 2012
Mar 2012
Apr 2012
Above 2 in cows
& 1.5 in sheep
Below 2 in cows
and 1.5 in sheep
Female
Male
Number of
samples
examined
32
34
36
37
33
Cows
Number of
infected
samples
04
08
04
03
05
Prevalence in
percentage
(%)
12.5%
23.5%
11.11%
8.10%
15.15%
Sheep
76
14
96
103
71
172
Number of
samples examined
Number of
infected samples
85
80
76
49
49
02
09
03
01
05
Prevalence in
percentage
(%)
2.35%
11.25%
3.94%
2.04%
10.20%
18.42 %
152
17
11.18%
10
10.41%
187
15
8.02%
14
10
24
13.59%
14.08%
13.95%
193
146
339
11
9
20
5.69%
6.16%
5.89%
Fig 2: Months wise prevalence (%) of F. hepatica in cows and sheep in district Mardan
Fig 3: Age wise prevalence (%) of F. hepatica in cows and sheep in district Mardan.
Fig 4: Sex wise prevalence (%) of F. hepatica in cows and sheep in district Mardan.
~ 332 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies
Table 3: Months, age and sex wise prevalence of F. gigantica in cows and sheep in District Mardan
Parameter
Months
Age
(years)
Gender
Total
Dec2 011
Jan 2012
Feb 2012
Mar 2012
Apr 2012
Above 2 in cows
& 1.5 in sheep
Below 2 in cows
and 1.5 in sheep
Female
Male
Number of
samples
examined
32
34
36
37
33
Cows
Number of
infected
samples
01
04
02
0
03
Prevalence in
percentage
(%)
3.12%
11.76%
5.55%
0.00%
9.09%
Number of
samples
examined
85
80
76
49
49
Sheep
Number of
infected
samples
03
05
03
0
02
76
03
3.94%
152
05
3.28%
96
07
7.29%
187
08
4.27%
103
71
172
03
07
10
2.91%
9.85%
5.81%
193
146
339
04
09
13
2.07%
6.16%
3.83%
Prevalence in
percentage (%)
3.52%
6.25%
3.94%
0.00%
4.08%
4. Conclusion
Fascioliasis infections in cows and sheep are endemic and
widespread in District Mardan. So, the control measures
should be taken by devastation of intermediate host (snail
population). Avoiding low lying pastures have also
meaningfully importance for controlling fluke infections.
Periodic anthelmintic treatment should be given to get the
maximum benefits from cattle. Present study will be
supportive to make approach for control of fascioliasis in cows
and sheep of Mardan to prevent economic loss. However some
extensive serological examination is needed to predict true
prevalence of the disease.
Fig 5: Months wise prevalence (%) of F. gigantica in cows and sheep
in district Mardan
Fig 6: Age wise prevalence (%) of F. gigantica in cows and sheep in
district Mardan.
Fig 7: Sex wise prevalence (%) of F. gigantica in cows and sheep in
district Mardan.
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