dc.description.abstract | Bovine foscioliosis coused by F. giganticais widespread in There is a large collection of reports of fasciolosis in Kenya based on abattoir data records from veterinary investigation laboratories (VILS) as well as reports on a few farm study was carried out to improve on the reports.
Diagnosis of fasciola infection has traditionally been based on detection of typical eggs in the faeces. A variety of other techniques are now available eg enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), which has shown to be sensitive and useful.
Three agro-ecological zoned were defined depending on the reported prevalence; high risk, medium risk and low risk zones. Two study districts were picked at random from each zone. The study farms were selected using the two stage cluster sampling.
Faecal and blood samples were collected on the farm. Serum was later harvested. ELISA and faecal sedimatation tests (FST) were carried out.
A total of 2434 faecal and blood samples were screened. ELISA achieved the highest (66%) positive rate of the samples from Kwale district and the lowest (23%) rate in Nakuru. An overall positive prevalence of (43%) for fasciolosis was achieved. The faecal sedimentation test showed prevalence of 19%. In both tests high prevalence were observed in Kwale and Kilifi districts. ELSA was always positive when FST was positive but not the converse.
The on-famr survey utilizing two reliable diagnostic tests was meant to improve on existing abattoir reports. Both tests showed fair to good agreements. The higher detection by ELISA might be due to deworming and other reasons. It was concluded that on-farm surveys are better than retrogressive studies; thought the latter are cheaper and faster., the current prevalence of fasciolosis are different from past reports with coastal showing higher than expected prevalences | en |