Epidemiological and clinico-pathological studies of fasciolosis outbreaks in sheep in Punjab (India) Kumar H.*,1, Mahajan Vishal1, Bal Mandeep Singh1, Filia G.1, Kaur Kamalpreet1, Vasudev Ashuma1, Kumar Sandeep1, Banga H.S.1 1Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Science, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab *Corresponding author
Abstract Two outbreaks of fasciolosis were investigated in sheep in the district of Ludhiana (Punjab). Out of 675 animals at the farm, 275 were critically ill and 155 reported dead. Clinically, sheep were cachetic and lack of vigour due to partial loss of appetite, mucous membranes were pale with signs of icterus, submandibular edema and some of the animals had diarrhea. Faecal sample examination was positive for fasciola eggs. Necropy reveaed slightly pale carcass, severe hepatic changes including traumatic destruction of the liver parenchyma, haemorrhages and necrosis. Fasciola gigantica immature flukes were seen in the cut surface of theliver. Haematological studies of affected animals revealed decreased in haemoglobin indicating anemia and leucocytosis due to relative increase in neutrophil count. There was significant increase in serum glutamate-oxalate transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) level in serum of affected animals. Total protein was decreased due to decrease in albumin. Histopathological changes included infiltration of polymorphonuclear cells, numerous eosinophils in lamina propria and severe fibrosis content in serum. Total bilirubin was markedly increased in serum of affected sheep. Top Keywords Diarrhoea, Fasciola gigantica, Pathology, Sero-biochemical, Sheep. Top |