Bovine and ovine schistosomiasis: prevalence and associated host factors in selected sites of South Achefer district, northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a snail-borne trematode infection in man and animals in tropical and subtropical countries. It is an economically important disease caused by several Schistosoma species and results in economic losses through mortality and morbidity from severe infection and from long-term effect of moderate- and long-standing chronic infection. This study was conducted from November 2013 to April 2014 to determine the prevalence and potential host-related risk factors of bovine and ovine schistosomiasis in selected sites of South Achefer district, northwest Ethiopia. About 532 faecal samples were collected from randomly selected cattle and sheep from three purposively selected peasant associations. The samples were processed with sedimentation technique to detect Schistosoma ova using light microscopy. Results indicated that the overall prevalence of schistosome infection was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the cattle (24.6%) than in the sheep (2.3%). Only Schistosoma bovis ova were recorded in the present attempt. A significant (P < 0.001) association of S. bovis infection with poorer body condition score was observed in the cattle, but not in the sheep. However, schistosome infection was not associated (P > 0.05) with age or gender in either species. Therefore, well-planned deworming aimed at reducing the prevalence and impact of S. bovis infection in ruminants could be worthwhile in the study sites.