INCIDENCE AND PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN FASCIOLIASIS (<i>FASCIOLA GIGANTICA</i>) OF DOMESTICATED DEER

Abstract

An investigation was carried out on incidence and pathology of fascioliasis in deer of Chittagong Zoo and some houses of Chittagong city during the period from January 2001 to June 2004. A total of 57 domesticated deer of various types were examined to diagnose the fascioliasis in Chittagong zoo and some house deer of Chittagong city. By faecal examination out of 44 cases 34 (77.3%) were positive for fascioliasis, of which, 15 (34.1%) cases were recorded in Chittra deer, 12 (27.3%) in Maya deer, 05 (11.4%) in Shambar deer and 02 (4.5%) in Nathrini deer. In post mortem examination, fascioliasis found in 13 (100%) cases, of which, 08 (61.5%) from Chittra deer and 05 (38.5%) from Maya deer. The overall incidence of fascioliasis in deer was 82.5%. In relation to sex the fasciolasis was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in female (82.6%) than male (71.4%) deer. The incidence of fascioliasis in various types of deer in relation to age was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in age group of above 2 years old than in age group below 2 years old. The gross examination revealed enlarged livers with round edges and thickened capsule with numerous haemorrhagic spots on the parietal surface (subacute form). In chronic form, the livers were cirrhotic and reduced in size. The affected intra-hepatic bile ducts were protruded and were engorged with flukes. Microscopically the migratory tracts were represented by the presence of haemorrhagic, oedema and infiltration with numerous eosinophils mixed with few lymphocytes. The wall of the bile ducts was thickened with fibrous tissue proliferation and the lining epithelium showed hyperplastic changes.