Study on ovine fasciolosis: Prevalence and associated risk factors in North Gondar Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

A cross sectional study was conducted from November to April, 2011 in three districts (Gondar town, Gondar Zuria, and Dembia) of North Gondar Administrative Zone (NGAZ). The objectives of the study, were to determine the prevalence ovine fasciolosis and to asses risk factors associated with fasciolosis in sheep. Coprological examinations, was used to collect fresh fecal samples directly from live sheep during the study period. Out of the total 400 fecal samples examined, 173 (43.3%) were positive for Fasciola eggs. There was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) among age groups (young (45.8%), adult (39.7%), and old (42.4%)) and between sexes (male (42.74%) and female (43.35%)), respectively. However, there was statistically significant variation (P < 0.05) between different body conditions of the animal (good body condition (28.5%), medium (41.7%), and poor body condition (97.8%)). The prevalence of fasciolosis was higher in animals with poor body condition. Also, there was statistically significant difference among the three districts (P < 0.05). The highest prevalence rate was detected in Gondar Zuria districts (34.6%), Dembia (43.7%), and Gondar town (51.9%), correspondingly. This study indicated that, fasciolosis is the major obstacles of sheep production in the study area by inflicting remarkable direct and indirect losses to the animal. Therefore, strategic deworming of sheep with antihelminthics can reduce the prevalence rate of the parasites. Key words: Ethiopia, North Gondar, ovine, coprological, fasciolosis