Fasciola gigantica In Onitsha And Environs

Abstract

The presence of Fasciola gigantica in cattle slaughtered in Onitsha abattoir and three other abattoirs in Onitsha area of AnambraState, Nigeria was investigated from November to December 2004. The study involved actual postmortem inspection on the slaughtered cattle. The liver were examined for Fasciola bymaking length wise incsion on the ventral side ofthe liver in such a waythat the bile duct and gall bladder are cut open. All cases of Fasciola were detected from the liver. Afor-Igwe abattoir recorded the prevalence rate of 10.8% whle the prevalence rates of 7.0%, 7.7% and 13.4% were recorded at Nkwor-Ogidi abattoir, Oye Olisa abattoir and Onitsha main market abattoir respectively. Out of a tota of 1580 catte examined, 166(10.51%) were infected with F. ggantca. Of the 166 diseased liver, 26(15.7%) had light worm load, 77(46.4%) medum worm load and 63(38%) had heavy worm load. The lowest number of worm recovered per liver was 3 while the highest was 88. This study has established the presence of F. gigantica in Onitsha Area. It was also observed that most diseased liver were not condemned. This situation calls for serious attention o the veterinary workers in the state. In view of the fact that these cattle whichwere brought from the Northern part of Nigeria were made to trek to places of pasture (near streams and rivers) within Onitsha area where the snail intermediate host of the parasite thrives, itis suggested that grazing of cattle should be highly restricted to lesser snail infected areas. The range land system (Artificial pasture land) seems tobe the panacea to fascioliasis in cattle.

Keywords: Fasciola gigantica, Cattle, Liver, Onitsha

Animal Research International Vol. 3 (2) 2006 pp. 448-450