Quantification of Fasciola gigantica infestation in Zebu cattle of Bangladesh

Chowdhury, S. M. Z. H.; Mondal, M. M. H.; Huq, S.; Akhter, N.; Islam, M. S.

doi:1994.7.3.343

Article

Ruminant Nutrition and Forage Utilization

Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 1994;7(3): 343-346.
https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.1994.343 Published online September 1, 1994.

Quantification of Fasciola gigantica infestation in Zebu cattle of Bangladesh

S. M. Z. H. Chowdhury, M. M. H. Mondal, S. Huq, N. Akhter, M. S. Islam

Abstract

A research study was undertaken to quantify fascioliasis in both live and slaughtered zebu cattle at Savar, Bangladesh. Eggs of Fasciola gigantica per gram of feces (EPG) was determined in a total of 213 fasciola infested live cattle. The EPG per animal ranged from 100 to 400 (mean 138.03 4.27 SE). Counting of F. gigantica was made in a total of 63 fasciola infested livers of slaughtered cattle. Number of immature fluckes per liver ranged from 0 to 37 (mean 8.74 0.85 SE) and mature flukes ranged from 2 to 121 (mean 20.54 2.23 SE). Total load of flukes recovered per liver varied from 4 to 132 (mean 29.28 2.42 SE). Significantly higher EPG (p<0.05) and higher load of flukes in the livers (p<0.01) were observed from September to December (post monsoon and winter). The EPG and fluke counts were found significantly higher (p<0.01) in animals after one year of age and these were also higher in female animals (p<0.05) than the males.

Keywords: Fascioliasis; EPG; Fasciola Counts; Liver; Zebu Cattle