Prevalence of ruminants fascioliasis and their economic effects in Kashan,center of Iran

Objective:To determine the prevalence and economic losses of Fasciola spp.isolates and costs incurred due to liver condemnation from ruminants in Kashan region,center of Iran from 2012 to 2013.Methods:In this cross-sectional study,a total number of 251 325 slaughtered sheep,goats and cattle(88939 sheep.151 924 goats and 10462 cattle) were examined via necropsy for fasciolasis in industrial Kashan abattoirs located in center of Iran.The average weight was calculated as 1 000 g for sheep,900 g for goat and 5000 g for cattle in this study region.Based on market value,the average price of a kilo gram of normal liver at Kashan city during the study period was 8 USD.The amount of main nutrients and vitamins elimination in liver contaminated to fascioliasis was determined.Results:Overall 3.28%of the livers were found to be infected.For total number of sheep,goats and cattle slaughtered annually in region study,it was estimated that 7505 livers were infected and total annual economic losses of fascioliasis of studied animals was 41 784 USD(based on market prices in study period).Of this.23 360 USD,30240 USD and 15400 USD were associated with the fascioliasis of sheep,goats and cattle,respectively.Conclusions:This study indicated that the Fasciola sp.clearly remains prevalent and causes considerable economic losses in study region in sheep,goats and cattle and presumably,other areas and hosts of Iran,providing baseline data for the future monitoring of this potentially important parasitic infection in the country.

Ectopic fascioliasis mimicking a colon tumor

Fasciola hepatica, a leaf shaped trematode that is common in cattle, sheep and goats, is acquired by eating raw water plants like watercress or drinking water infected with the encysted form of the parasite. The varied clinical presentations of fascioliasis still make a high index of suspicion mandatory. Besides having a wide spectrum of hepatobiliary symptoms like obstructive jaundice, cholangitis and liver cirrhosis, the parasitic infection also has extrabiliary manifestations. Until recently, extrahepatic fascioliasis has been reported in the subcutaneous tissue, brain, lungs, epididymis, inguinal lymph nodes, stomach and the cecum. In this report, a strange manifestation of the fasciola infection in a site other than the liver, a colonic fascioliasis, is presented.

A five years study of fascioliasis and dicrocoeliasis in Iran's slaughterhouses

Objective:Fascioliasis and dicrocoeliasis are the two endemic parasitic diseases of Iran that make lots of economical damages annually.This study has been performed to evaluate infection rate of domesticated animals to fascioliasis and dicrocoeliasis among of slaughtered animals in slaughterhouses of Iran.Methods:In this crosssectional study infection rate of slaughtered animals has been analyzed in 28 provinces of Iran during 5 years period(2003-2007).Results:It is indicated that infection rate was 4.84%to fascioliasis and dicrocoeliasis in this five-year study period.Total removed livers were 815 807 and 771 026 numbers from consumption cycle for fascioliasis and dicrocoeliasis respectively from 32 714 926 slaughtered animals.The highest infection rate was Gilan(20.91%),Mazandaran(16.36%),and Esfahan(9.95%) respectively among studied provinces while the lowest infection rate was indicated in Ilam(0.76%),Boushehr(0.84%),and Yazd(1.51%) respectively. Our data proved the highest frequency rate were identified in summer and autumn for both fascioliasis and dicrocoeliasis.Conclusion:Fascioliasis and dicrocoeliasis are continuously increasing in slaughter animals of Iran.Therefore the results of current study can improve and move up activities against these zoonosis diseases.

Parasites of the liver:A global problem?

Parasitic liver diseases can be caused by trematodes,cestodes,nematodes,and protozoa.This pathology is significant because millions of people in different parts of the world have liver parasites,which can manifest themselves in the development of inflammation,liver cysts,cholecystitis,cholelithiasis,pancreatitis and liver cirrhosis that are often threatening their lives.The International Agency for Research on Cancer considers three species of trematodes,Schistosoma haematobium,Opisthorchis viverrini and Clonorchis sinensis,to be carcinogens.Complex modern examination methods,in some cases including extensive screening of large populations,are required for diagnosing liver parasites.Treatment of parasitic liver diseases is differentiated and can involve a combination of surgical and therapeutic measures.There is no doubt that the clinical and epidemiological scale allows one to regard parasitic liver diseases as a global healthcare problem.

Ecology and Species Composition of Fresh Water Snails in Amassoma Community and Niger Delta University Campuses, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

The knowledge about the population dynamics of freshwater snail intermediate host and their roles in disease transmission is little known in Bayelsa State. This study investigated the species composition of fresh water snail intermediate host in Amassoma community and the Niger Delta University Campuses during August 2019-October 2019 across five locations (Main campus Hostel, E.T.F Building, Ogboebi-Ama, Efeke-Ama, Ogbopina). Snails were collected from the water bodies with the aid of a scooping net and hand picking. The morphological identification of the snail intermediate host followed standard procedures. From the result, five hundred and seventy-one freshwater snails belonging to four genera and five species were recorded. The presence of Lymnae and Bulinus in the locations highlights foci for fascioliasis and schistosomiasis. The presence of Melanoides spp. is novel in Bayelsa State. The public health implications of these snails have called for timely control intervention.

Potential of Hemianax ephippiger (Odonata-Aeshnidae) nymph as predator of Fasciola intermediate host, Lymnaea natalensis

Objective: To evaluate the predatory capacity of the Odonata, Hemianax ephippiger nymph as a biocontrol agent for the freshwater snail Lymnaea natalensis, intermediate host of Fasciola gigantica. Methods: Observations on the searching, attacking and devouring of the snails with a series of laboratory-based predation experiments, whose aims were to determine daily predation rate, differential predation on small-, medium- and large-sized snails were carried out. Results: Laboratory evaluation revealed that, the Odonata nymph could kill and consume all three sizes of snails. Searching and handling time of the predator differed depending on snail size and predator vulnerability. The predation rate varied also with respect to snail size and density.Conclusions: Our observations suggested that the predator Hemianax ephippiger may be a suitable bio-control agent of Lymnaea natalensis snail population.

Fasciola hepatica infestation as a very rare cause of extrahepatic cholestasis

Fasciola hepatica,an endemic parasite in Turkey,is still a very rare cause of cholestasis worldwide.Through ingestion of contaminated water plants like watercress,humans can become the definitive host of this parasite.Cholestatic symptoms may be sudden but in some cases they may be preceeded by a long period of fever,eosinophilia and vague gastrointestinal symptoms.We report a woman with cholangitis symptoms of sudden onset which was proved to be due to Fasciola hepatica infestation by an endoscopic retrograde cholangiography.

<i>Fasciola hepatica</i>and Associated Parasite, <i>Dicrocoelium dendriticum</i>in Slaughter Houses in Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria

Fasciola hepatica is a parasite of clinical and veterinary importance which causes fascioliasis that leads to reduction in milk and meat production. Bile samples were centrifuged at 1500 rpm for ten (10) minutes in a centrifuge machine and viewed microscopically to check for F. hepatica eggs. A total of 300 bile samples of cattle which included 155 males and 145 females were collected from the abattoir. Results were analyzed using chi-square (p > 0.05). The prevalence of F. gigantica and Dicrocoelium dentriticum is 33.0% (99) and 39.0% (117) respectively. Age prevalence of F. hepatica revealed that 0 - 2 years (33.7%, 29 cattle) were more infected than 2 - 4 years (32.7%, 70 cattle) while for D. dentriticum age 2 - 4 years were more infected than 0 - 2 years with prevalence of 40.2% (86) and 36.0% (31) respectively. No significant difference (P > 0.05) existed in prevalence in ages of the cattle. Out of the 300 bile samples examined, 22.3% (67 cattle) were co-infected with F. hepatica and D. dendriticum. Males were more co-infected than females having a prevalence of 24.5% (38 cattle) and 20.0% (29 cattle) respectively. Based on the age, samples of age 0 - 2 years were more co-infected than those of age 2 - 4 years with a prevalence of 23.3% (20 cattle) and 22.0% (47 cattle) respectively. The findings of this present study revealed that efforts to alleviate problems of animal health and productivity are yet to make any significant impact as this poses threat on human health. Investigation on the pattern of infections in cattle slaughtered should be strengthened.