Epidemiology of Small Ruminant Fasciolosis in Arid Areas of Lower Awash River Basin, Afar Region, Ethiopia

Across sectional study was conducted from December 2014 to February 2015 to determine the prevalence of Fasciolosis and associated risk factors of small ruminant in selected districts of Lower Awash River Basin. A total of 295 faecal samples were collected from (166 goat and 129 sheep), kept under pastoral and agro-pastoral area. Out of the total 295 faecal samples examined 32.5% (259) were found positive to Fasciola infection. The result revealed that significantly higher prevalence of Fasciola infection was observed in goats 37.9% (63) than sheep 25.6% (33). The risk of Fasciolosis in goats were 0.477 times higher than sheep (OR=0.477, p<.048). Animals with poor body condition had higher (44.5%) prevalence than animals with good body condition (13.3%). Significantly (OR=3.513, p<0.001) higher prevalence of disease was observed in animals managed under agro-pastoral production system than those kept in pastoral production. Like wise significant variation in prevalence was observed between the flocks contain both species of animal and contain only sheep or goat (OR=0.354, p<0.036). However, the prevalence of Fasciola infection was not significantly different between male and female animals. In the study area animal nutrition and social awareness on the importance of Fasciola infection is generally poor; low productivity in small ruminants is likely to be aggravated by a high prevalence of Fasciola. Hence, urgent and organized control strategies should be designed and implemented as milk of small ruminant is main source of food for pastoralists.