Prevalence of Fasciolosis in Cattle, Sheep, and Goats Slaughtered in Slaughter Slabs in Trans-Nzoia West, Kenya. and Knowledge of Livestock Handlers

Abstract

Background: Fasciolosis is known globally to be an important helminthic disease of ruminants caused by liver fluke species of the genus Fasciola, and it is one of the most neglected tropical zoonotic diseases that can lead to human infection. It has the widest geographic spread of any emerging zoonotic disease, and it occurs in many countries of the world.  Objectives: The study aimed at determining the prevalence of fasciolosis in ruminants slaughtered in Trans-Nzoia West. Specific objectives were to establish the trend of fasciolosis in ruminants, ascertain the relationship between fasciolosis prevalence and rainfall patterns and assess the knowledge of meat sellers and farmers about fasciolosis. Methodology: A 5-year secondary data retrospective study was carried out in Trans-Nzoia West, Trans-Nzoia County. The study population consisted of ruminants slaughtered, meat sellers and livestock farmers.Results: A total of 104,221 cattle, sheep and goats were slaughtered in the five-year period in which 6,098 (5.85%) were infested with fasciolosis with a prevalence of 6.52%, 6.08% and 4.10% in cattle, sheep, and goats respectively. Most meat sellers (72.2%) were able to identify fasciolosis in infested livers, 88.9% reported liver flukes infestation resulted in the loss of income while 58.3% were not aware of nutrition depletion associated with fasciolosis. Of the farmers interviewed, 52.9% grazed in swampy areas, 66.7% dewormed after 3 months, 78.4% had heard about fasciolosis and 80.0% did not know the cause of fasciolosis. The majority (95.0%) were not aware of the snail species spreading liver flukes while 77.5% did not know that fasciolosis was a zoonotic disease.Conclusion: Fasciolosis was prevalent in the area and caused great economic loss to the meat sellers. Most farmers were not aware of its cause and zoonotic nature. Recommendations: Fasciolosis control should be approached from a multidisciplinary angle and farmers should be educated on it and its zoonotic nature.

Keywords: Fasciolosis, Prevalence, Knowledge