Abstract
Aim:This study focuses on the risk factors associated with the prevalence of Fasciola affecting cattle population in three provinces belonging to the Nile Delta of Egypt and to estimate the economic losses as a result of fascioliasis.Materials and Methods:From January 2015 to end of December 2015, records of 21 farms (4976 cattle) were analyzed to screen the prevalence of fascioliasis among cattle farms, to identify its associated risk factors and its economic impacts on Nile Delta region of Egypt.Results:The overall prevalence of fascioliasis in the Nile Delta region of Egypt was 9.77%. The prevalence of fascioliasis was found to be statistically significantly associated with age, sex, breed, and type of farms. The highest prevalence was observed in <2 age group (10.91%), and the lowest was >3 age groups (8.35%). In terms of body condition scores, cattle with medium and poor conditions were associated with fascioliasis more than those with good body condition. Besides, cattle raised in organic farms were associated with lower risk of fascioliasis than those in conventional farms. The prevalence of fascioliasis was noted more prominent in districts with moderate temperatures and with relative humidity (>60%). The annual overall costs for fascioliasis were estimated to be 221.2 USD/cow due to the significant reduction in body weight, reduction in milk production, and the treatment costs for fascioliasis.Conclusion:The results provided could be helpful for improving the control and preventive strategies.
Highlights
In Egypt, the prevalence of parasitic diseases among farm animals varied according to many factors including irrigation, season and frequency of exposure of animal to infection, immune condition of the animal, the geographic location, and climatic conditions [1,2]
Kafr El-Shaykh was recording a higher prevalence of 11.67% than El-Beheira (10.6%) and Alexandria (7.15%)
The higher prevalence of fascioliasis was recorded in the humidity range of 50-60% and in higher temperatures31°C (12.16% and 13.01%, respectively)
Summary
In Egypt, the prevalence of parasitic diseases among farm animals varied according to many factors including irrigation, season and frequency of exposure of animal to infection, immune condition of the animal, the geographic location, and climatic conditions [1,2]. Parasitic infections among farm animals greatly affect livestock production and cause important economic losses including the retardation of growth, emaciation, and significant decrease in efficiency as well as the low production of milk, meat, and wool. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http:// creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated
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