Prevalence and Molecular Diagnosis of
Fasciola hepatica in
Sheep and Goats in Different Districts of
Punjab,
Pakistan
Waseem Shahzad*, Khalid Mehmood1, Rashid Munir2,
Waqar Aslam, Muhammad Ijaz1, Rashid Ahmad, Mohammad
Sarwar Khan1 and Ahmad Jawad Sabir1
Livestock Production Research Institute Bahadurnagar, Okara; 1University
of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore-54000; 2Veterinary
Research Institute, Lahore, Pakistan
*Corresponding author: waseem1971@hotmail.com
Abstract
A study was conducted to determine the prevalence and molecular diagnosis of
fasciolosis in Lohi sheep and Beetal goats in Okara, Sahiwal and
Lahore
districts of Punjab province. A total of 800
samples including 200 fecal and 200 bile, each from Lohi sheep and Beetal goats
were collected and processed for microscopic examination of Fasciola eggs
as well as its confirmation through polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Of the
fecal samples, 3.5 and 2% samples whereas from bile samples, 6.5 and 4% bile
samples from sheep and goats were found microscopically positive for Fasciola
hepatica, respectively. By
PCR, 4.5 and 3.5% fecal samples and 8.5 and 5% bile samples from sheep and
goats, respectively were confirmed for F. hepatica. Statistically sheep
and goats species were found equally likely acquiring the F. hepatica
diagnosed by either source of material (fecal and bile samples) similarly fecal
and bile samples were equally likely showing fasciolosis in either of sheep and
goats.