Epidemiological studies were undertaken at slaughter houses, livestock farms, veterinary hospitals and on household buffaloes under the different climatic conditions existing in Punjab province. Infection rate was 25.59, 26.16, 13.7 and 10.5 per cent, respectively in slaughtered buffaloes, buffaloes at livestock farms, veterinary hospitals and in household buffaloes. Overall highest (24.0%) seasonal prevalence in all types of buffaloes was recorded during autumn, followed by spring (20.0%), winter (13.0%). While the lowest (9.0%) was recorded during summer. It was noticed that a higher infection rate was recorded in older buffaloes than in youngsters (below 2 years of age) where as sex showed no significant difference. Buffaloes of either sex are equally affected.Epizootiološka istraživanja fascioloze u bivola držanih pod različitim klimatskim uvjetima na području Punjaba provedena su na klaonicama, većim farmama, manjim seoskim gospodarstvima i na veterinarskim klinikama. Učestalost invazije u zaklanih bivola iznosila je 25,59%, u bivola s farmi 26,16%, veterinarskih klinika 13,7% te malih seoskih gospodarstava 10.5%. Najveća učestalost ustanovljena je u jesen (24,0%), zatim u proljeće (20,0%) te zimi (13,0%), dok je najmanji postotak invadiranih životinja (9,0%) utvrđen u ljetnom razdoblju. Istraživanjem je potvrđeno da su češće bile invadirane starije životinje. Nisu utvrđene razlike učestalosti po spolu

Azhar Maqbool

Chaudhry Sikandar Hayat

Haji Ahmad Hashmi

Tanveer Akhtar

Epizootiološka istraživanja fascioloze u bivola držanih pod različitim klimatskim uvjetima na području Punjaba provedena su na klaonicama, većim farmama, manjim seoskim gospodarstvima i na veterinarskim klinikama. Učestalost invazije u zaklanih bivola iznosila je 25,59%, u bivola s farmi 26,16%, veterinarskih klinika 13,7% te malih seoskih gospodarstava 10.5%. Najveća učestalost ustanovljena je u jesen (24,0%), zatim u proljeće (20,0%) te zimi (13,0%), dok je najmanji postotak invadiranih životinja (9,0%) utvrđen u ljetnom razdoblju. Istraživanjem je potvrđeno da su češće bile invadirane starije životinje. Nisu utvrđene razlike učestalosti po spolu.Epidemiological studies were undertaken at slaughter houses, livestock farms, veterinary hospitals and on household buffaloes under the different climatic conditions existing in Punjab province. Infection rate was 25.59, 26.16, 13.7 and 10.5 per cent, respectively in slaughtered buffaloes, buffaloes at livestock farms, veterinary hospitals and in household buffaloes. Overall highest (24.0%) seasonal prevalence in all types of buffaloes was recorded during autumn, followed by spring (20.0%), winter (13.0%). While the lowest (9.0%) was recorded during summer. It was noticed that a higher infection rate was recorded in older buffaloes than in youngsters (below 2 years of age) where as sex showed no significant difference. Buffaloes of either sex are equally affected

Maqbool, Azhar

Sikandar Hayat, Chaudhry

Akhtar, Tanveer

Hashmi, Haji Ahmad

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221VETERINARSKI ARHIV 72 (4), 221-228, 2002* Contact address:Dr. Azhar Maqbool, 214 Umer Block Allama Iqbal Town Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, Phone: +092 42 7832131,Office: +092 42 9211 461; Fax: 092 41 647 846; E-mail: fadeel@brain.net.pkISSN 0372-5480Printed in CroatiaEpidemiology of fasciolosis in buffaloes under differentmanagemental conditionsAzhar Maqbool1*, Chaudhry Sikandar Hayat2, TanveerAkhtar3, and Haji Ahmad Hashmi11Parasitology Department, University of Veterinary and  Animal Sciences, Lahore,Pakistan2Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan3 Zoology Department, University of the Punjab, Lahore, PakistanMAQBOOL, A., C. S. HAYAT, T. AKHTAR,  H. A. HASHMI: Epidemiology offasciolosis in buffaloes under different managemental conditions. Vet. arhiv 72,221-228, 2002.ABSTRACTEpidemiological studies were undertaken at slaughter houses, livestock farms, veterinaryhospitals and on household buffaloes under the different climatic conditions existing in Punjabprovince. Infection rate was 25.59, 26.16, 13.7 and 10.5 per cent, respectively in slaughteredbuffaloes, buffaloes at livestock farms, veterinary hospitals and in household buffaloes. Overallhighest (24.0%) seasonal prevalence in all types of buffaloes was recorded during autumn,followed by spring (20.0%), winter (13.0%). While the lowest (9.0%) was recorded duringsummer. It was noticed that a higher infection rate was recorded in older buffaloes than inyoungsters (below 2 years of age) where as sex showed no significant difference. Buffaloes ofeither sex are equally affected.Key words: fasciolosis, epidemiology, managemental conditions222 Vet. arhiv 72 (4), 221-228, 2002A. Maqbool et al.: Epidemiology of fasciolosis in buffaloes under different managementalconditionsIntroductionFasciolosis is a widespread parasitosis responsible for immenseeconomic losses in buffaloes in terms of condemnation of livers, decreasedmilk and meat production, loss of weight and poor carcass quality. Fasciolosisis characterized by sudden death with bloodstained froth at the naturalorifices in acute cases. Diarrhoea, jaundice and bottle jaw are predominantfeatures in chronic cases. This disease entity causes losses in terms ofmorbidity and mortality in flukey areas. Surveys in some Asian countrieshave shown that amongst domestic animals, buffaloes suffer more frequentlyfrom fasciolosis (BALASINGAM, 1962; AL-BARWARI, 1977; SHEIKH et al., 1983).In developed countries, the data on epidemiology of various helminthiasisare published in an efficient manner as an aid to combat infections moreeffectively. In contrast, in developing countries little published informationexists and data on the epidemiological aspect of helminthic infections,particularly on fasciolosis. This the reason for this paper, which records theprevalence of fasciolosis in buffaloes in the Punjab (Pakistan) in relation tometeorological factors, host, age and physiological status and is an attemptto bridge the gap in knowledge of these aspects.Materials and methodsSurvey of fasciolosis in slaughter houses. To record the prevalenceof fasciolosis a survey of 6 slaughterhouses in Lahore, Gujranwala,Sheikhupura, Sargodah, Jhang and Faisalabad was carried out by visitingthe abattoirs at weekly intervals each month during the period January toDecember 1996. Post-mortem examinations of slaughtered animals werecarried out and livers were checked for the presence of the parasites. Thedate, the number of total and infected animals were recorded,  as were theage and sex of infected animals.Fasciolosis in live animals. Epidemiological and parasitological studieswere performed at livestock farms, veterinary hospitals and on householdbuffaloes in the districts of Lahore, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Sargodah,Jahang and Faisalabad. During the studies the seasonal prevalence wasrecorded. For this purpose the year was divided into 4 seasons as follows:223Vet. arhiv 72 (4), 221-228, 2002A. Maqbool et al.: Epidemiology of fasciolosis in buffaloes under different managementalconditionswinter (November-February), spring (March-April), summer (May-August),and autumn (September-October). The prevalence of fasciolosis in relationto temperature, humidity, age and sex was also defined.Parasitological techniques. Flukes recovered from each of theinfected livers during the survey in slaughterhouses were counted andmorphologically identified as Fasciola gigantica (ROSS et al., 1966). Faecalsamples were examined by direct smear, flotation and sedimentationtechniques for the presence of fluke eggs (URQUHART et al., 1988). Thecounting of eggs was performed by McMaster egg counting technique(KELLY, 1974). Trematode eggs were identified on the basis of morphology(YAMAGUTI, 1975; SOULSBUY, 1982).Meteorological data. Day-to-day information on maximum andminimum temperature, humidity, rainfall and pan-evaporation was collectedfrom the meteorological records of Lahore, Sargodha and Faisalabad. Themonthly averages for each weather factor were calculated.ResultsEpidemiology of fasciolosis. During the study year (January-December, 1996) 2704 at slaughterhouses, 1720 at livestock farms, 8721at veterinary hospitals and 8783 household buffaloes were examined ofwhich 692 (25.6%) were slaughtered, 450 (26.16%) at livestock farms,and 1201 (13.77%) household buffaloes were infected with Fasciolagigantica. Overall infection rate was 3226 (14.7%) (Table 1).Buffaloes Number examined Number affected % age of infection Slaughtered 2704 692 25.6 Livestock Farm 1720 450 26.16 House hold 8783 883 10.05 Veterinary hospitals 8721 1201 13.77 Overall 21928 3226 14.71  Table 1. Epidemiology of fasciolosis in buffaloes224A. Maqbool et al.: Epidemiology of fasciolosis in buffaloes under different managementalconditionsVet. arhiv 72 (4), 221-228, 2002Among the slaughtered buffaloes the highest overall prevalence wasrecorded during autumn (47.26%) followed by spring (29.1%) and winter(20.8%). The lowest prevalence (18.1%) was recorded during summer.At livestock farms, the highest overall prevalence (41.03%) was recordedduring autumn, followed by spring (31.98%) and winter (22.5%), while thelowest prevalence was during summer (18.85%). At veterinary hospitals apeak of Fasciola infection was recorded during autumn with an infectionrate of 23.47%, followed by 19.7% during spring and 11.5% during winter.The lowest prevalence (8.2%) was recorded during summer. In householdbuffaloes, two seasonal peaks were recorded, during spring and autumn,with an infection rate of 15 and 15%, respectively. The lowest rate (5.56%) Seasonal prevalence of fasciolosis  Spring Summer Autumn Winter Overall Slaughtered 134/460 29.13% 164/906 18.10% 207/438 47.26% 187/900 20.77% 692/2704 25.59% Livestock farm 87/272 31.98 105/557 18.85 119/290 41.03 135/601 22.46 450/1720 26.16 House hold 215/1432 15.0 159/2855 5.56 225/1499 15.0 284/2997 9.47 883/8783 10.05 Veterinary hospital 289/1467 19.7 238/29.2 8.20 339/1444 23.47 335/29.8 11.5  Overall 19.96% 9.22% 24.24% 12.71%   Table 2. Seasonal prevalence (%) of fasciolosis in buffaloes Below 2 years Above 2 years Slaughtered 262/1317 19.89 435/1400 31.07 Livestock farm 284/1102 25.77 166/618 26.86 House hold 313/3863 8.10 570/4920 11.58 Veterinary hospital 453/5263 8.60 748/3458 21.63 Overall 11.36% 18.45%  Table 3. Age wise prevalence (%) of fasciolosis in buffaloes225Vet. arhiv 72 (4), 221-228, 2002A. Maqbool et al.: Epidemiology of fasciolosis in buffaloes under different managementalconditionsTable 1. Specification of myomorphus mammals examined by renoculture andmicroscopic agglutination acording to the trapping area with corresponding resultswas recorded during summer. Hence, the overall highest incidence of theyear in buffaloes was recorded during autumn (24.24%), followed by spring(19.96%) and winter (12.7%), while the lowest (9.22%) prevalence wasrecorded during summer (Table 2).The occurrence of fasciolosis was more frequently recorded in adultbuffaloes (18.45%) than in youngsters less than 2 years of age (11.36%)(Table 3). Analysis of the disease pattern in male and female buffaloesrevealed no significant difference (Table 4).Sex Slaughtered Livestock farm House hold Veterinary hospital Male 454/1717 26.44 317/1099 28.84 343/3888 8.93 717/5598 12.8 Female 238/987 24.1 133/626 21.22 540/4944 10.92 484/3123 15.49  It was also noticed that prevalence was higher in buffaloes at livestockfarms (26.16%) followed by slaughterhouse buffaloes (25.59%) and atveterinary hospitals (13.77%), while the lowest (10.05%) prevalence wasrecorded in household buffaloes.It was also reported that the highest prevalence was recorded atGujranwala, followed by Lahore, Sargodha, Sheikhupura, and Jhang, withthe lowest at Faisalabad.Prevalence in relation to meteorological factors. The meteorologicaldata of Lahore, Sargodha and Faisalabad districts for the period January toDecember 1996 were recorded.A positive correlation of disease prevalence to minimum temperature,morning and evening humidity and rainfall has been recorded. Statisticalanalysis revealed a significant correlation (P<0.01) between diseaseprevalence and humidity. Correlation between disease prevalence and othermeteorological factors was not significant.Table 4. Sex wise prevalence of fasciolosis in buffaloes226 Vet. arhiv 72 (4), 221-228, 2002A. Maqbool et al.: Epidemiology of fasciolosis in buffaloes under different managementalconditionsDiscussionThe occurrence of fasciolosis in an area is influenced by a multifactorialsystem which comprises hosts, parasite and environmental effects. In thenatural foci of fasciolosis, the Fasciola and their intermediate and finalhosts form an association posing a potential epidemiological threat and it isimportant that the existence and localization of such an association shouldbe recognized beforehand so that the situation can be brought under control.In the present study, epidemiological data on fasciolosis were collectedfrom buffaloes in slaughterhouses, at livestock farms, in households and atthe veterinary hospitals of Lahore, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Sargodha,Jhang and Faisalabad districts of Punjab province. When the data onseasonal prevalence in all the four groups of buffaloes were analyzed itwas observed that a higher prevalence of fasciolosis occurred duringautumn, followed by spring and winter, while it was lowest during summer.These findings are consistent with those of GUPTA et al. (1986), MOREL andMAHAT (1987), CHAUDHRI et al. (1993), MAQBOOL et al. (1994), and GHIRMIREand KARKI (1996).In fact, SWARUP and PACHAURI (1987) and CHAUDHRI et al. (1993) reportedthat fasciolosis is definitely seasonal and is at most restricted to two seasonsof the year, i.e. autumn and spring. Fasciola cercariae and Lymnaea snailshave been found to survive better at 25-30 °C which explains, in part atleast, the much higher prevalence in autumn compared to other seasons.OLLERENSHAW (1958) reported that the two most important factorsinfluencing the prevalence of fasciolosis are temperature and moisture, forthey affect the hatching of fluke ova, the viability of encysting cercariaeand population of snails. He also emphasized that there are at least twoseasonal periods in which temperature and moisture are favourable for therapid propagation of the parasitic life cycle.In the present study, rains beginning during June change environmentaltemperature and humidity thereby favouring the emergence of cercariaefrom snails. Due to this, metacercariae may show their existence in Julyafter ingestion, which produces fasciolosis in animals. This assumptionappears to be the reason for the high prevalence of fasciolosis during autumn.Animals over two years old were significantly more frequently affectedthan those under 2 years. These findings accord with those of AAL et al.227Vet. arhiv 72 (4), 221-228, 2002A. Maqbool et al.: Epidemiology of fasciolosis in buffaloes under different managementalconditionsReferencesAAL, A. A. A., A. M. ABOU EISHA, M. W. EL-SHEARY (1999): Prevalence of fascioliasisamong man and animals in Ismalia province. Assuit. Vet. Med. J. 41, 141-152.AKHTAR. S, M. S. ISLAM (1994): Qualification of Fasciola gigantica infestation in Zebucattle of Bangladesh. Asian-Australian J. Anin. Sci. 7, 343-346.AL-BARWARI, S. E. (1977): Survey on liver infections with Fasciola gigantica amongslaughtered animals in Iraq. Bulletin of Endemic Diseases. 18, 75-92.BALASINGAM, E. (1962): Studies on fascioliasis of cattle and buffaloes in Singapore dueto Fasciola gigantica. Cobbold Ceylon Vet. J. 10, 10-29.CHAUDHRI, S. S., R. P. GUPTA, S. KUMAR, J. SINGH, A. K. SANGWAN (1993):Epidemiology and control of Fasciola gigantica infection of cattle and buffaloes inEastern Haryana, India. Indian. J. Anin. Sci. 63, 600-605.GHIRMIRE, N. P., N. P. S. KARKI (1996): Prevalence of fascioliasis and efficacy ofvarious anthelmintics in buffaloes of Rural Kathamandu vetcon. N. U. A. pp. 43.GUPTA, R. P., C. L. YADAV, N. S. RUPRAH (1986): The epidemiology of bovinefascioliasis (Fasciola gigantica) in Haryana State. Indian Vet. J. 63, 187-190.KELLY, W. R. (1974): Veterinary Clinical Diagnosis. 2nd Ed. Balliere Tindall Company,London.MAQBOOL, A., M. J. ARSHAD, F. MAHMOOD, A. HUSSAIN (1994): Epidemiologyand chemotherapy of fascioliasis in buffaloes. Assiut. Vet. Med. J. 30, 115-123.MOREL, A. M., S. N. MAHATO (1987): Epidemiology of fascioliasis in the Koshi hills ofNepal. Trop. Anim. Health and Prod. 19, 33-38.OLLERENSHAW, C. B. (1958): Climate and liver fluke. Agriculture (London) 65, 231-252.ROSS, J. G., J. R. TODD, C. DOW (1966): Single experimental infection of calves with theliver fluke, Fasciola hepatica. J. Comp. Pathol. 76, 67-18.SHEIKH, H. U. D., M. M. HAQ, M. J. KARIM, M. M. H. KHAN (1983) Parasites ofzoonotic importance in domestic ruminants. Pak. Vet. J. 3, 23-25.SHRESTHA, E. K., R. P. THAKUR, I. P. DHAKAL, S. N. MAHATO (1992): Prevalenceand treatment of fascioliasis in cattle and buffaloes in Dhankuta district. Vet. Review7, 47-49.(1999), SHRESTHA et al. (1992), and GHIRMIRE and KARKI (1996). Our recordedfindings corroborate the opinion of the above mentioned workers. The higherincidence in older animals might be due to lowering of resistance due toenvironmental factors at partus. Animals of both sexes were almost equallyaffected in the present study, as was similarly recorded by AAL et al. (1999).228 Vet. arhiv 72 (4), 221-228, 2002A. Maqbool et al.: Epidemiology of fasciolosis in buffaloes under different managementalconditionsReceived: 23 January 2002Accepted: 29 August 2002SOULSBY, E. J. I. (1982): Helminths, arthropods and protozoa of domesticated animals.7th Ed. Balliere Tindall, London.SWARUP, D., S. P. PACHAURI (1987): Epidemiological studies on fascioliasis due toFasciola gigantica in buffaloes in India. Buffalo- bulletin 6, 4-9.URQUHART, G. M., J. ARMOUR, J. L. DUNCAN, A. M. DUNN, F. W. JENNINGS(1988): Veterinary Parasitology. 2nd Ed. ELBS., Longman, U.K.YAMANGUTI, S. (1975): System Helminthium. Inter Science publisher Inc. New York,U.S.A.MAQBOOL, A., C. S. HAYAT, T. AKHTAR,  H. A. HASHMI: Epizootiologijafascioloze u bivola držanih u različitim uvjetima. Vet. arhiv 72, 221-228, 2002.SAŽETAKEpizootiološka istraživanja fascioloze u bivola držanih pod različitim klimatskim uvjetimana području Punjaba provedena su na klaonicama, većim farmama, manjim seoskimgospodarstvima i na veterinarskim klinikama. Učestalost invazije u zaklanih bivola iznosila je25,59%, u bivola s farmi 26,16%, veterinarskih klinika 13,7% te malih seoskih gospodarstava10.5%. Najveća učestalost ustanovljena je u jesen (24,0%), zatim u proljeće (20,0%) te zimi(13,0%), dok je najmanji postotak invadiranih životinja (9,0%) utvrđen u ljetnom razdoblju.Istraživanjem je potvrđeno da su češće bile invadirane starije životinje. Nisu utvrđene razlikeučestalosti po spolu.Ključne riječi: fascioloza, epizootiologija, način uzgoja

Epizootiologija fascioloze u bivola držanih u različitim uvjetima.

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