Bovine fascioliasis in Nigeria--intercurrent parasitic and bacterial infections

Abstract

The bacterial and parasitic infections associated with field cases of bovine fascioliasis due to Fasciola gigantica were investigated; 47.6% of infected cattle had blood parasites, 61.9% had faecal-borne parasites and 85.8% had positive bacterial isolates in the bile in contrast to 13.3% with blood parasites, 71.1% with faecal-borne parasites and 28.9% positive for bile bacteria among uninfected cattle. Trypanosoma spp., Babesia, Paramphistomum and Schistosoma were the most commonly found parasites associated with fascioliasis. On the other hand Staphylococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli and mixed infections of these with other Enterobacteriaceae were the common bacteria isolated from the bile of infected cattle. The parasitaemia of Babesia was significantly higher in infected than uninfected cattle but there was no significant difference in strongyle egg count between the 2 groups of cattle.