Fascioliasis is a wide spread parasitic disease of ruminants causing great economic losses in terms of decreased milk and meat yield and predisposing to many bacterial infections. Looking the importance and utilization of the small ruminants in our country and the substantial losses because of the Fascioliasis this study was designed to study the prevalence and treatment of Fascioliasis in and around Rawalakot Azad Kashmir.
For this purpose a total of 300 Ovine faecal samples were collected from different areas of Rawalakot. Faeces were collected from sheep of various age, breed and sex. Faeces of each sheep were examined by direct smear, sedimentation and flotation techniques. Positive animals were selected for therapeutic trials.
Out of 300 faecal samples 101 were found positive for Fascioliasis. Overall prevalence was 33.6%. Sex wise prevalence was also studied and it was found that out of 75 male sheep 23 were found positive while out of 225 female 78 was positive for Fascioliasis. Prevalence of Fascioliasis was 30.6% in male and 34.6% in female. The prevalence was also studied age wise and three groups were made. Sheep in first group were less than 1 year of age, out of 25 sheep 4 were found positive and prevalence was 16%. Sheep in second group were between 1-2 years of age, out of 156 sheep 39 of this age group were found positive having a prevalence of 25%. The sheep included in third group were greater than 2 year of age, out of total 119 sheep in this group 58 were found positive for Fascioliasis with prevalence of 48.7%.
For therapeutic trials 80 positive sheep were divided in to 4 groups A, B, C and D. Group A and B were further divided in to three sub groups A1, A2, A3 and B1, B2, B3. 10 animals were placed in each sub group and group C and group D. Animals in groups A and B were treated with herbal extracts. Fumaria parviflora was given to group A animals and Caselpinia crista to group B animals @ 60, 70, 80 mg /kg body weight. Animals in group C were treated with Oxyclozanide @ 10 mg/kg body weight, while animals in group D were kept as infected untreated control. The efficacy of single dose of Oxyclozanide was found 100 percent on 18 day post treatment where as the efficacy of single dose of Fumaria parviflora at 60, 70, and 80 mg/kg body weight was 51.6%, 54.6%, 59.4% on 18th day post treatment, While its efficacy at same dose level after second dose was 79.6%, 82.8%, 86.9% on 21st day post treatment and 83.8% 87.5%, 91.8% respectively on 28th day. The efficacy of single dose of Caselpinia crista at 60, 70, and 80 mg/kg body weight was 31%, 41.42%, 58.7% on 18th day post treatment, while its efficacy at same dose level after second dose was 47.36%, 58.85%, 82.55% on 21st day and 51.3%, 63.2%, 87.3% respectively on 28th day.
At the end of research data on prevalence was analyzed by chi square test P < 0.05 was considered as significant whereas data on therapeutic trials was analyzed by using ANOVA in this case p < 0.01 was considered as significant.
From this study it was concluded that Fascioliasis is significantly prevalent in sheep in and around Rawalakot. While Oxyclozanide is most effective drug against Ovine Fascioliasis. The outcome of this study will help the veterinarians and farmers in the field.