QUANTIFICATION OF Fasciola gigantica INFESTATION IN ZEBU CATTLE OF BANGLADESH

A research study was undertaken to quantify fascioliasis in both live and slaughtered zebu cattle at Savar, Bangladesh. Eggs of Fasciola gigantica per gram of feces (EPG) was determined in a total of 213 fasciola infested live cattle. The EPG per animal ranged from 100 to 400 (mean $138.03{\pm}4.27SE$). Counting of F. gigantica was made in a total of 63 fasciola infested livers of slaughtered cattle. Number of immature flukes per liver ranged from 0 to 37 (mean $8.74{\pm}0.85SE$) and mature flukes ranged from 2 to 121 (mean $20.54{\pm}2.23SE$). Total load of flukes recovered per liver varied from 4 to 132 (mean $29.28{\pm}2.42SE$). Significantly higher EPG (p < 0.05) and higher load of flukes in the livers (p < 0.01) were observed from September to December (post monsoon and winter). The EPG and fluke counts were found significantly higher (p < 0.01) in animals after one year of age and these were also higher in female animals (p < 0.05) than the males.