Prevalence of ovine fasciolosis and its economic significance in basona worana district, central Ethiopia

A cross-sectional and retrospective study was conducted from February-May, 2012 to determine the prevalence of ovine fasciolosis. A total of 1528 sheep were selected and sampled by using systematic simple random sampling, Sedimentation technique, haematocrite centrifugation and postmortem examination were employed during the study period. Overall prevalence of ovine fasciolosis based on farm, abattoir and retrospective clinical study was 62.7%, 52.6% and 59.1%, respectively. There was no statistically significant variations (p>0.05) by sex and age of sheep in both farm and abattoir study. The association of ovine faciolosis with different breeds of sheep was statistically significant variation (p<0.05) was observed in farm, abattoir and retrospective veterinary clinical data analysis. The prevalence of fasciolosis was different among FAMACHA eye-colour scores, body condition, mean PCV value, liver pathology, types of Fasciola species and worm burden (p<0.05). The prevalence of ovine fasciolosis based on FAMACHA eye-colour scores was highest (100%) in pink white and lowest in red (51.9%). The mean PCV value of Fasciola species in infected and uninfected sheep were 24.04 ± .381 and 25.87 ± .516, respectively. The mean worm burden of lightly, moderately and severely affected livers was 21.00 ± 1.889, 34.30 ± 2.662 and 105.09 ± 9.741, respectively. The average mean worm burden per affected liver was 56.79 ± 4.635. The predominant species identified in the study area was Fasciola hepatica (68.8%). The mean fluke burden of each Fasciola species counted was 47.17 ± 4.737, 25.50 ± 4.912 and 93.02 ± 12.139 for Fasciola hepatica, Fasciola gigantica and mixed Fasciola species infection, respectively. The prevalence of ovine fasciolosis in the study area should be reduced by sustainable and integrated control programmes which include strategic application of anthelmintics, efficient farm and grazing management by Veterinarians and sheep owners in the study area.