Prevalence of Fascioliasis among Humans and Slaughtered Ruminants in Katsina Abattoir, Katsina State, Nigeria

Abstract

Fascioliasis is a zoonotic parasitic disease of significant public health and economic importance in tropical regions. This study investigated the prevalence of fascioliasis among humans and slaughtered ruminants at Katsina abattoir, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study design was adopted involving 200 human participants and 300 ruminants (including cattle, sheep, and goats). Samples including faeces, bile, and liver tissues were collected and analysed using standard parasitological techniques. The overall prevalence in humans of 2.6% was recorded, with a significant association between age and infection (p = 0.011). The findings indicated a moderate level of endemicity in the study area. The overall prevalence of fascioliasis among ruminants was 14.3%. Species-specific prevalence showed that sheep had the highest infection rate (21.7%), followed by cattle (17%), while goats recorded the lowest prevalence (10%). In cattle, infections were most frequently detected in faecal (10.20%) and bile samples (8.84%), with liver samples having the lowest detection rate (1.36%). Among the sheep, bile samples had the highest occurrence of the infection (13.04%), whereas in goats, faecal samples recorded slightly higher occurrence (3.07%) than bile and liver samples (2.30% each). Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference in prevalence among animal species (p = 0.145). The higher prevalence observed in sheep and cattle may be attributed to grazing habits and increased exposure to contaminated environments. This study highlights the need for improved control measures, including proper meat inspection, public health education, and strategic deworming programs to reduce transmission.