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Occurrence and seasonal predisposition of fasciolosis in cattle and
goats slaughtered in Kasulu District abattoir, Western Tanzania |
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Jahashi
Nzalawahe1* and Erick V.G. Komba2
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1Department
of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, Sokoine University of
Agriculture, P.O. Box 3019, Morogoro, Tanzania; 2Department
of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, Sokoine University of
Agriculture, P.O. Box 3021, Morogoro, Tanzania
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Abstract |
A 3 year study was
conducted to estimate the prevalence of fasciolosis in cattle and goats
slaughtered at Kasulu district abattoir. It involved 33 months (July,
2010 to March, 2013) retrospective data collected as abattoir records
and three months (April, 2013 to June, 2013) prospective meat inspection
by researchers, during which adult worm and egg samples were collected
for morphometric identification. During the study period, a total of
8410 cattle and 8424 goats were slaughtered and inspected; out of which
6376 (76%) and 2295 (26%) were found to be infected with fasciolosis
respectively. The study observed significant seasonal pattern of
fasciolosis in cattle with higher prevalence observed during the dry
season. Worm and egg identification suggested that
F. gigantica was responsible
for the infections in slaughtered cattle and goats. This is the first
study to report the occurrence of fasciolosis in domesticated ruminants
in western Tanzania and has established that
fasciolosis is highly prevalent in cattle and goats. Effective control
strategies need to be put in place focusing on both the parasite and the
snail intermediate hosts.
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Keywords:
Fasciolosis; cattle; goats; Western zone; Tanzania |
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To cite this article:
Nzalawahe J and EVG Komba, 2013.
Occurrence and seasonal
predisposition of fasciolosis in cattle and goats slaughtered in Kasulu
District Abattoir, Western Tanzania.
Res.
Opin. Anim. Vet. Sci., 3(11), 395-400. |
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