Prevalence of Fasciola gigantica in Sheep and Goats and Associated Risk Factors in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Fasciolosis is a parasitic disease affecting ruminants. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of Fasciola gigantica in sheep and goats in Zaria, Kaduna State. A total of 400 faecal samples were collected over a period of three months (July to September, 2018) and examined using the formal ether sedimentation technique. The overall intensity of the infection was one plus(1+) indicating low infection. The prevalence of F. gigantica in the small ruminants examined was 52(13.0%) with sheep having a higher prevalence of 34(17.0%) than in goats 18(9.0%). Higher prevalence of F.gigantica was also observed in adult sheep 28(22.2%) and goats 15(20.0%) than in young ones of sheep 6(8.1%) and goats 3(2.4%).Consequently, higher prevalence of F. gigantica was observed in female sheep and goats with respective prevalence rates of 23(24.2%) and 17(12.1%) than in male sheep and goats with rates of 11(10.5%) and 1(1.7%) respectively. The prevalence of F. gigantica was 8(21.6%), 23(17.0%) and 3(10.7%) for Uda, Yankasa, and Balami breeds of sheep respectively, and 17(10.4%) and 1(2.7%) for Kano Brown and Crosses of goats respectively. Higher prevalence of F. gigantica was observed in ruminants on non-settled farms 37(18.5%) than those on settled farms15(7.5%).The prevalence of F. gigantica was significantly (p<0.05) higher in animals with poor body condition 18(34.0%) than good body condition 1(1.8%) animals. This study has established the presence of F. gigantica in faecal sample of sheep and goats in farms within Zaria, therefore appropriate use of anthelmintics and awareness of the public on the prevention and control measures should be ensured.