Abstract
The prevalence of fasciolosis was evaluated in bovines based on coprological examination and postmortem liver examination of slaughtered cattle and buffaloes. The faecal examination of 130 cattle and 135 buffaloes revealed a prevalence of 9.9 % in cattle and 13.3 % in buffaloes respectively. The examination of livers from cattle and buffaloes (155 each) slaughtered at the KMPMCL abattoir revealed the prevalence of fasciolosis was 20.6 % in cattle and 22.5 % in buffaloes. The results were statistically significant in faecal examination and not significant in liver examination from cattle and buffaloes respectively.
Keywords: Fasciolosis, Abattoir, Coprological, Cattle, Buffalo
Introduction
Fasciolosis in ruminants caused by Fasciola gigantica is known to be widely prevalent in the Indian subcontinent and is an economically important disease. In the tropical plain dry lands of Karnataka the infection is seasonal and is primarily governed by climatic factors and is endemic in high rainfall and waterlogged areas (Muraleedharan 2005). Financial loss caused by fasciolosis is commonly estimated from the liver condemnation rates. Boray (1985) had reported that the economic losses due to fasciolosis in domestic animals amounted to 200 million US dollars per annum for rural agricultural communities and the commercial sector all over the globe. Under Indian conditions, this loss may be higher with the prevalence ranging from 30–80 % (Bhatia et al. 1989; Rai et al. 1996). The infection also results in poor carcass quality, liver condemnation, reduced milk yield and reproductive failures.
There has been no systematic study on the prevalence of fasciolosis in bovines in Karnataka State based on faecal and abattoir survey. Therefore a study was undertaken to note the prevalence of fasciolosis in cattle and buffaloes and compare the detectability with faecal examination and after slaughter.
Materials and methods
The cattle and buffaloes slaughtered in Karnataka Meat and Poultry Marketing Corporation limited (KMPMCL) belonged to Bangalore, Kolar, Tumkur, Mysore, Mandya, Gulbarga, Bagalkot and Raichur districts of Karnataka state. The slaughtered animals were all male, since the law prohibits the slaughter of female animals.
Faecal examination
The randomly suspected fresh faecal samples were collected per rectally from individual animals in dry, clean polythene bags and were brought to the laboratory after affixing a proper identification label. A total of 265 (130 cattle and 135 buffalo) faecal samples were collected and were processed in the laboratory by direct smear and sedimentation techniques by standard techniques (Soulsby 1982) for the detection of Fasciola eggs.
Liver examination
The livers of cattle and buffaloes (same suspected animals from which faecal samples were collected) slaughtered at KMPMCL Bangalore were examined and given 2–3 longitudinal incisions through the major bile ducts to determine the presence or absence of flukes in the bile duct of liver. A total of 310 (155 each from cattle and buffalo) bovine livers were examined and the data was recorded.
Results
Out of 130 cattle and 135 buffalo faecal samples examined 06 (4.6 %) and 08 (5.9 %) were positive by direct smear, 07 (5.3 %) and 10 (7.4 %) were found positive by sedimentation techniques from cattle and buffaloes respectively (Table 1).
Table 1.
Prevalence of fasciolosis in bovines based on coprological and liver examination from KMPMCL abattoir, Bangalore district, Karnataka
| Species | Cattle | Buffalo | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Methods | Faecal examination** | Liver examination* | Faecal examination** | Liver examination* | ||
| Direct smear | Sedimentation method | Direct smear | Sedimentation method | |||
| No. of samples tested | 130 | 130 | 155 | 135 | 135 | 155 |
| No. Positive | 06 | 07 | 32 | 08 | 10 | 35 |
| Percent positive | 4.6 | 5.3 | 20.6 | 5.9 | 7.4 | 22.5 |
| Total prevalence (%) | 9.9 | 20.6 | 13.3 | 22.5 | ||
Chi square value = 0.89 * P ≤ 0.05 No significance between cattle and buffalo
Chi square value = 45.14 ** P ≤ 0.05 Significant between species and between methods
An overall prevalence of Fasciola sp. Eggs were found in 9.9 % of cattle and 13.3 % of buffaloes out of 130 and 135 faecal samples examined in cattle and buffaloes, respectively. The results were found statistically significant between species and between techniques by Chi square test (Daniel 1987).
Similarly a total of 155 cattle and 155 buffalo’s livers from slaughtered animals were examined, out of which 20.6 % cattle and 22.5 % buffaloes were naturally infected with adult Fasciola flukes in their liver (Table 1). The statistical analysis by Chi square test indicated that there was no significant difference between cattle and buffaloes which were found positive for fasciolosis by liver examination during slaughter.
Discussion
Yadav and Ahluwalia (1971) reported the prevalence of fasciolosis in buffaloes slightly lower than the present study about 15.0 % based on liver examination in buffaloes at Agra slaughterhouse during an abattoir study of food animals in different abattoirs of western Uttar Pradesh. Similarly Kumar et al. (1982) reported a lower prevalence of 13.9 % of fasciolosis based on liver examination during the clinico-pathological studies on naturally occurring bovine fasciolosis in Pant nagar.
Dhar et al. (1988) reported higher prevalence of 18.7–55.6 % in animals by faecal examination with cattle showing highest prevalence from different areas of Kashmir valley and by necropsy examination they reported 100 % prevalence in cattle. Sharma et al. (1989) reported a similar study with higher prevalence 85.1 % of fasciolosis in cattle based on necropsy examination from the same area of Kashmir valley. The reason for overall higher prevalence of fasciolosis in animals in Kashmir was apparently due to the agro climatic conditions’ prevailing in the valley for most of the year is of a temperate nature. However a very small number of cattle livers (05) were examined accounting for 100 % prevalence in cattle.
Magona et al. (1999) reported relatively higher prevalence of 26.8 % by faecal examination and 36.0 % based on liver examination in cattle maintained under traditional management at Uganda. Accessibility of infection and non-implementation of control measures against Fasciola infection was the reason attributed for high prevalence of fasciolosis in cattle at Uganda.
Compared to present study slightly lower prevalence of 6.8 % fasciolosis based on faecal examination was reported by Upadyay and Pachauri (2001) in Tarai region of Kumaon. Based on liver examination almost similar prevalence of 21.6 % in cattle but slightly higher prevalence of 27.2 % in buffaloes was recorded. Similarly Velusamy et al. (2004) reported almost similar prevalence of 20.8 % bubaline fasciolosis by liver examination at Bareilly. In contrast to above findings Bharadwaj (2004) reported lower prevalence of 3.0 % in cattle and 1.0 % in buffaloes by faecal examination from villages of Delhi.
Acknowledgments
The facilities and funding by the ICAR through the Centre of Advanced Faculty Training is gratefully acknowledged.
Footnotes
This article is part of M.V.Sc thesis of first author submitted to KVAFSU, Bidar.
Contributor Information
C. M. Krishna Murthy, Email: doctorkitty1980@gmail.com
Placid E. D’Souza, Email: placid2001in@yahoo.co.in
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