Fascioliasis is a zoonotic disease of public importance that affects animals and man. This study was aimed at assessing facioliasis infection among goats ( gall bladder and faecal samples) slaughtered in Port Harcourt metropolis. Following ethical approval, samples were collected from three different abattoirs ( Mile 3, Rumuokwurusi and Trans-Amadi) and analyzed using standard parasitological method. Out of the 323 faecal samples examined, 20 (6.19%) were found to be positive for fascioliasis. Mile 3 abattoir 17(5.26%) had higher prevalence than Trans Amadi abattoir 3(0.93%) while Rumuokwurusi had no infection (2 =10.11; p = 0.001). The prevalence was significantly different among the three study areas. Gall bladder showed prevalence of 18 (5.57%).Trans-Amadi abattoir had the highest prevalence of 11(3.41%) followed by Mile 3 abattoir 7(2.17%) and Rumuokwurusi abattoir had none (2 = 0.91; p = 0.339). Infection based on sex showed 5.88% of female goats were infected against 0.31% of males. At Trans-Amadi, 0.93% of females against 0.0% males were infected (P > 0.05). At mile 3, it was 4.95% females against 0.31 % males (P = 0.001). Rumuokwurusi abattoir had no infection. Gall bladder infection showed Trans-Amadi 2.79% females, 0.62% males; Mile 3, 2.17% females and 0.0% males and Rumuokwurusi had no infection. Organisms isolated were Fasciola species (6.19%), Hookworm (8.36%), Trichostrongylus species (1.86%), Strongyloides species (1.86%), Coccidia oocyst (1.24%). The health implication of these findings is that humans are at risk as fascioliasis is a zoonotic disease. There is a need to intensify effort to create more awareness about the possible consequence of this infection.
Key words: fasciolasis; infection; Prevalence; Goats; Zoonotic disease
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