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. 2023 Jan 3;12(1):75.
doi: 10.3390/pathogens12010075.

First Molecular Identification of Fasciola gigantica in Slaughtered Cattle in Cape Verde: Prevalence, Gross Pathological Lesions, Genetic Identification and Coprological Analysis

Sara Levy  1 , Manuela Calado  2 , Teresa Letra Mateus  3   4   5 , Madalena Vieira-Pinto  1   5
Affiliations

First Molecular Identification of Fasciola gigantica in Slaughtered Cattle in Cape Verde: Prevalence, Gross Pathological Lesions, Genetic Identification and Coprological Analysis

Sara Levy et al. Pathogens. .

Abstract

A study on fasciolosis prevalence, gross pathological lesions, fluke genetic identification and coprological analysis was carried out in slaughtered cattle from one abattoir in Cape Verde. Of the 131 cattle inspected over two months, 12 (9.0%) presented fasciolosis-compatible lesions (FCL) that resulted in liver condemnation. The genetic characterization of the flukes collected, through restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of PCR-amplified fragments (PCR-RFLP), confirmed the presence of Fasciola gigantica; therefore, being the first identification of this species in cattle from Cape Verde. Animals that released Fasciola spp. eggs and, thus, responsible for environment contamination (positive shedders), were identified through coprological analysis (natural sedimentation technique). Of the 12 animals with FCL, samples from 11 were submitted to coprological analysis and 7 (63.6%) were found to be positive shedders. Furthermore, of the 82 animals with non-FCL, randomly selected for coprological analysis, 4 (4.9%) were also found to be positive shedders for Fasciola spp. The results of this study, regarding species identification and coprological analysis, are epidemiologically important to update the information regarding fasciolosis in Cape Verde. The new data could help implement effective strategies for disease control and mitigation, consequently reducing economic loss and the level of animal and human infection from the One Health perspective.

Keywords: RFLP; active shedders; epidemiology; fasciolosis; liver lesions.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Two bovine livers with bile duct thickening on the left lobes of slaughtered cattle from Cape Verde.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Hyperplastic bile ducts of a slaughtered cattle from Cape Verde.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Fasciola spp. inside the hypertrophied bile duct (A). Fasciola spp. moving on the surface cut (B) of a slaughtered bovine from Cape Verde.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Agarose gel electrophoresis of the amplified ITS 1 region from the 19 samples, after digestion with TasI (FastDigest Tsp509I, Fermentas). M: 2000 bp molecular weight marker. N: negative control.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Bovine feces near a watercourse (A,B) in S. Domingos, Santiago.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Lymnaea spp. near a watercourse in S. Domingos, Santiago.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Water being pumped from a watercourse (A) into a horticultural production (B), in S. Domingos, Santiago.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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