Prevalence of Fasciolopsis in cattle slaughtered at Eke Market Abattoir, Afikpo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

In the research study carried out to determine the prevalence of fasciolopsis among cattle slaughtered at Eke Market abattoir, Afikpo, Ebonyi State Nigeria, feacal samples collected from the rectum of the slaughtered cattle were analysed, using the standard floatation technique (saturated sodium chloride) to recover the ova from the faecal samples. Post mortem examination of the liver and other organs of the slaughtered cattle were also examined for Fasciola species. Of the 256 cattle slaughtered at the Eke Market abattoir between May 2011 – April 2012, 93(37.89%) were found to be positive with F. hepatica, 60(23.44%) were infected with F. gigantica. The prevalence of fasciolopsis on the livers and other organs examined during post mortem examination were 66(25.78%) for F. hepatica and 42(16.41%) for F. gigantica. F. hepatica was the most common fasciolopsis infection in the study area. There was the presence of Balantidium coli infection among the cattle sampled with a prevalence of 46(17.97%). As a result of the high prevalence of fasciolopsis in the study area, it is recommended that veterinary and health officers should inspect the meat slaughtered at the Eke Market before releasing it to the public for consumption. A range land should be provided for the cattle heads men, which should be devoid of freshwater snails (the intermediate hosts) of Fasciola infections.Keyword: Fasciolopsis, Prevalence, Cattle, Fasciola hepatica, Fasciola gigantic