Epidemiology of Fasciola gigantica and Amphistomes in Cattle on Traditional, Small-scale Dairy and Large-scale Dairy Farms in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania

Abstract

A longitudinal descriptive study was conducted to determine the prevalence and distribution of flukes (Fasciola gigantica and amphistomes) on traditional, large-scale and small-scale dairy cattle farms in Iringa district, southern highlands of Tanzania. Coprological examinations of different cohorts for the presence of fluke eggs were recorded monthly. Results indicated a significant influence of the type of management on the prevalence of both Fasciola and amphistomes. The prevalence of flukes was highest in the traditional system, moderate in the large-scale dairy system and lowest in the small-scale dairy system in most parts of the year. Adults and yearlings had the highest prevalence of flukes in all management systems throughout the year. The proportion of animals excreting amphistome eggs was always higher than that of animals excreting Fasciola eggs in all zones, villages, management systems, farms and age groups. The proportion of animals passing fluke eggs increased gradually from the early dry season and peaked at the end of the dry season and the early part of the rainy season. Strategic treatments against flukes are recommended in adults and yearlings only in traditional and large-scale dairy farms. Routine treatments of calves/weanlings in large-scale and traditional farms and zero-grazed small-scale dairy cattle farms might be unnecessary. For a cost-effective helminth control programme in the area, strategic treatments at the beginning of the dry season (June) and at the end of the dry/early rainy season (November/December) are recommended.

Epidemiology of Helminths in Cattle of Kirinyaga County, Kenya

“…The nutritional deficiency, grazing habits, immunological status, pasture management, presence of intermediate host and vector and the number of infective larvae and eggs in the environment act as predisposing factors [5]. According to [6], loss in body weight, poor reproductive performance, digestive disturbance, and emaciation for longer period result from the gastro-intestinal parasites. They can also lead to anaemia due to the production of toxins.…”

Effectiveness of strategic anthelmintic treatments in the control of gastrointestinal nematodes and Fasciola gigantica in cattle in Iringa region, Tanzania

“…Iringa region, forming part of the southern highlands, is known to be a trematode-endemic area, especially for Fasciola gigantica and amphistomes (Mahlau 1970;Makundi 2001;Keyyu et al 2005a) and gastrointestinal (GI) nematodes are also highly prevalent and widespread (Keyyu et al 2005a(Keyyu et al , b, 2006). An abattoir survey conducted in Iringa district of Iringa region showed that almost all indigenous cattle (97.2%) examined at the abattoir harboured GI nematodes (Keyyu et al 2003a).…”

“…An abattoir survey conducted in Iringa district of Iringa region showed that almost all indigenous cattle (97.2%) examined at the abattoir harboured GI nematodes (Keyyu et al 2003a). Epidemiological studies conducted in the region have shown that helminth infections reveal distinct seasonal patterns with a peak of GI nematodoses during the rainy season (Keyyu et al 2005b); and high prevalences of fasciolosis and amphistomosis towards the end of the dry season and the early part of the rainy season (Makundi 2001;Keyyu et al 2005a). A study on worm control practices and anthelmintic usage in the region showed that anthelmintic usage was irrational, treatments being based on availability of money to buy drugs and not the epidemiology of parasites in the area (Keyyu et al 2003b).…”

Infestation expérimentale de caprins parSchistosoma bovisetS. curassoni: effets pathogènes comparés

“…En raison de la chronicité de leurs manifestations cliniques, les helminthiases peuvent apparaî-tre comme dotées d'un pouvoir pathogène limité alors que leurs prévalences et leur action prolongée dans le temps pénalisent lourdement la productivité des éle-vages (Maichomo et al, 2004). Parmi les trématodes africains, les caractéristiques épidémiologiques du genre Fasciola sont bien connues (Keyyu et al, 2005) de même que celles de Schistosoma bovis (Sonsino, 1876), espèce qui a fait l'objet d'études approfondies en Afrique de l'Est (Kassuku et al, 1986a ;Majid et al, 1980). En parallèle, grâce à l'utilisation de méthodes isotopiques (Saad et al, 1984a), la pathogénie de S. bovis chez les bovins est clairement établie, le passage transpariétal des oeufs intestinaux étant la source première che de S. curassoni fut extraite à partir de deux moutons abattus dans la même région et maintenue sur Bulinus umbilicatus.…”