The potential reservoir role of donkeys and horses in zoonotic fascioliasis in Gharbia Governorate, Egypt.
Abstract: No doubt, fascioliasis tops all the zoonotic helminthes worldwide. In Egypt, human fascioliasis is increasing. The incidence and prevalence of fascioliasis in the Egyptian farm animals are well documented. However, none in Egypt has focused on the potential role of other domestic farm animals. A preliminary coprologic examination of donkeys and horses was done in eight centers of Gharbia governorate. The overall rate of infection in donkeys was 3.03%, in horses was 1.5%, and in mules 0.0%. Horses 2/74 (2.70%) and 1/26 (3.86%) were infected in Zefta and El Mahala El Kobra centers respectively. None of the horses was infected in other six centers. On the other hand, donkeys showed infection rates of 4.6%, 7.6% and 9.09% in the centers of Santa, Zefta and El Mahala El Kobra respectively. So, fascioliasis infected donkeys and horses were in Zefta and El Mahala El Kobra respectively. The latter center was the relatively highly infected one, followed by Zefta and lastly Santa (donkeys only). According to the population density of donkeys and horses in Gharbia governorate, donkeys represent the 41h rank in number. So, donkeys and to a very less extend, horses should be considered within the preventive and control measures of zoonotic fascioliasis.
Publication Date: 2002-09-07 PubMed ID: 12214933
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research investigates the role of donkeys and horses in spreading fascioliasis, a parasitic infection, in Gharbia Governorate, Egypt. The study found varying rates of infection among these animals, suggesting the need for inclusion of both species in disease control strategies.
Objective and Methodology
- The objective of the research was to investigate the potential role of donkeys and horses in the widespread of zoonotic fascioliasis in Gharbia Governorate, Egypt.
- Historically, fascioliasis has been found prevalent in farm animals in Egypt, but the role of donkeys and horses wasn’t previously considered or examined thoroughly.
- This research conducted preliminary coprologic examinations (analysis of fecal matter) on donkeys and horses across eight centers in the Gharbia Governorate.
Results
- The results showed that the rate of fascioliasis infection in donkeys was 3.03%, in horses it was 1.5%, whereas mules showed no presence of the disease.
- Horses in Zefta and El Mahala El Kobra showed infection rates of 2.7% and 3.86% respectively. The study did not find infected horses in the remaining six centers.
- Conversely, donkeys in Santa, Zefta, and El Mahala El Kobra showed higher infection rates, with 4.6%, 7.6%, and 9.09% respectively.
- Although the population density of donkeys ranks 41st in Gharbia Governorate, due to the relatively high infection rates, the study emphasizes the relevance of including donkeys in control measures for fascioliasis.
Conclusions
- The analysis revealed that donkeys and horses play a critical role in the transmission of fascioliasis in Gharbia Governorate.
- The differences in infection rates suggest varying levels of susceptibility and/or exposure among donkeys and horses. Particularly, the importance of donkeys should not be ignored given their infection rates.
- The study concludes that control and prevention strategies for zoonotic fascioliasis should not only focus on farm animals traditionally associated with the disease, but also include donkeys and horses in the scope.
Cite This Article
APA
Haridy FM, Morsy TA, Gawish NI, Antonios TN, Abdel Gawad AG.
(2002).
The potential reservoir role of donkeys and horses in zoonotic fascioliasis in Gharbia Governorate, Egypt.
J Egypt Soc Parasitol, 32(2), 561-570.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- The General Organization of Veterinary Services, Cairo, Egypt.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Disease Reservoirs
- Egypt / epidemiology
- Equidae
- Fasciola / isolation & purification
- Fascioliasis / epidemiology
- Fascioliasis / veterinary
- Feces / parasitology
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses
- Humans
- Parasite Egg Count / veterinary
- Prevalence
- Zoonoses
Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- Oso OG, Sunday JO, Odaibo AB. Temporal modelling of Lymnaea natalensis (Krauss, 1848) in tropical aquatic habitats. Onderstepoort J Vet Res 2023 May 10;90(1):e1-e13.
- Mas-Coma S, Valero MA, Bargues MD. Human and Animal Fascioliasis: Origins and Worldwide Evolving Scenario. Clin Microbiol Rev 2022 Dec 21;35(4):e0008819.
- Sack A, Oladunni FS, Gonchigoo B, Chambers TM, Gray GC. Zoonotic Diseases from Horses: A Systematic Review. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2020 Jul;20(7):484-495.
- Elshraway NT, Mahmoud WG. Prevalence of fascioliasis (liver flukes) infection in cattle and buffaloes slaughtered at the municipal abattoir of El-Kharga, Egypt. Vet World 2017 Aug;10(8):914-917.
- Helmy YA, El-Adawy H, Abdelwhab EM. A Comprehensive Review of Common Bacterial, Parasitic and Viral Zoonoses at the Human-Animal Interface in Egypt. Pathogens 2017 Jul 21;6(3).
- Abdel-Rahman EH, Mohamed AH, Abdel-Rahman AA, El Shanawany EE. The role of Ser-(Arg-Ser-Arg-Ser-GlucNAc)19-GlucNAc Fasciola gigantica glycoprotein in the diagnosis of prepatent fasciolosis in rabbits. J Parasit Dis 2016 Mar;40(1):11-21.
- Hanif F, Singh DK. Binary Combination of Carica papaya, Areca catechu and Myristica fragrans with Piperonyl Butoxide / MGK-264 against Freshwater Snail Lymnaea acuminata. Trop Life Sci Res 2013 Dec;24(2):1-11.
- Gherbawy YA, Shalaby IM, El-Sadek MS, Elhariry HM, Abdelilah BA. The anti-fasciolasis properties of silver nanoparticles produced by Trichoderma harzianum and their improvement of the anti-fasciolasis drug triclabendazole. Int J Mol Sci 2013 Nov 5;14(11):21887-98.
- Arias MS, Piñeiro P, Hillyer GV, Francisco I, Cazapal-Monteiro CF, Suárez JL, Morrondo P, Sánchez-Andrade R, Paz-Silva A. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the detection of equine antibodies specific to a recombinant Fasciola hepatica surface antigen in an endemic area. Parasitol Res 2012 Feb;110(2):1001-7.
- Alba A, Vazquez AA, Hurtrez-Boussès S. Towards the comprehension of fasciolosis (re-)emergence: an integrative overview. Parasitology 2021 Apr;148(4):385-407.
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