DOI: 10.36347/sjavs.2018.v05i11.002

Pages: 589-594

Abstract: Liver fluke infection is one of the major parasitic conditions affecting cattle productivity in the Nigerian livestock sector and has accounted for enormous losses globally. Availability of information on these parasites is necessary for instituting control measures against them. Reports on these infections for various parts of Nigeria exist but only few is available for the Bauchi area. Therefore, a study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of liver fluke infections among 410 cattle slaughtered at the Bauchi metropolitan abattoir between the months of November to December 2017. The age, sex, reed and body condition score of each animal was assessed using standard procedures. Thereafter, liver and gall bladder were examined for adult worms and eggs of the flukes. Out of the 410 cattle examined 62.2% (255) had liver fluke infections Dicrocoelium hospes being the most prevalent (63.5%) followed by Fasciola gigantica (18.4%) while mixed infection involving Dicrocoelium and Fasciola was uncommon. The gender and ages of cattle examined did not show significant asssociation with infection (p>0.05) but there was significant differences (p<0.05) in infection on the basis of breed and body condition score of cattle examined. The overall prevalence of liver fluke infection in this study was high. In view of this, it is recommended that there should be massive enlightenment campaigns to the farmers on the sources of liver fluke infections with its attendant consequences as well as ways of controlling the diseases in order to enhance livestock production in the area.