Clinical Research Abstracts of the British Equine Veterinary Association Congress 2015.

This research investigates the occurrence, severity, and impact of fasciolosis, a parasitic liver disease, in working donkeys in Ethiopia. The study reveals a high infection prevalence among donkeys, indicating their potential role in spreading the disease among livestock and humans, emphasizing the need for inclusion in epidemiological studies and preventive measures.

Objective and Methods of the Study

• The main objective of the study was to inspect the prevalence and harm caused by fasciolosis in donkeys.
• Various methods were used to conduct the study, including the cross-sectional coprological methods (study of feces to determine the health conditions of the animals), retrospective post-mortem studies, and employing traditional sedimentation-centrifugation-flotation techniques to analyze fecal samples.
• The study was conducted on a random sample of 803 working donkeys from the central region of Ethiopia.
• Data analysis was conducted using a generalized linear model and multivariate binary logistic regression with a significance level set at P<0.05.

Results of the Study

• The investigation revealed a worrying prevalence of fasciolosis infection, affecting 44.4% of donkeys according to coprological exams, and 41.9% post-mortem, independent of the age of the animal.
• Both Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica were spotted with an average infection intensity of 30 flukes (parasitic worms).
• The study also discovered that older donkeys (≥8 years) often harbor a significantly larger worm load.
• Physical and cellular pathologies of hyperplasia (abnormal increase in cell production), thickening of the bile ducts, fibrosis (scarring) of large portal regions, and irregular bile duct proliferation and hypertrophy (increase in size of tissues) were noted.

Conclusions

• The high infection prevalence of fasciolosis and associated liver damage in working donkeys in Ethiopia displays not only the impact on the health of the animals but the potential role they play in the spread of the disease.
• The authors stressed the need to consider these animals in overall epidemiological studies and also stressed the importance of developing sound preventative and control strategies for fasciolosis.
• The study maintained a strict ethical stance by obtaining the necessary approvals and consents for the use of animals in research.
• There were no competing interests declared by the researchers.