Barde Israel Joshua^1,3*, Ishaku Leo Elisha¹, Peter Betran Emmanuel², Ngulukun Samuel Sati¹, Dashe Yakubu Gunya¹, Lev Koldzieyski³ and Zhang Maodong³

¹National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria
²Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology (FCAH&PT), Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria
³International Toxicology Research Laboratory, Baie-D'Urfé, Montreal, Quebec Province, Canada

*Corresponding Author: Aurora Quintero Lira, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Instituto de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Avenida Universidad #133, Col. San Miguel Huatengo, C.P. 43775, Santiago Tulantepec de Lugo Guerrero, Hidalgo, México.

Received: September 03, 2026; Published: October 07, 2026

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted from May to July 2022 to determine the incidence and pathological lesions associated with Fasciola infections in ruminants slaughtered at the Jos Metropolitan Abattoir, Jos South, Plateau State, Nigeria. Fecal and post- mortem examinations were performed on a study cohort of 60 animals, comprising 20 cattle, 20 sheep, and 20 goats. The overall incidence of ruminant Fascioliasis was determined to be 11.7% (7/60). Species-specific incidence rates were 15.0% (3/20) in cattle, 10.0% (2/20) in sheep, and 10.0% (2/20) in goats. Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference in the incidence of infection among the three host species (P = 0.851, Fisher’s Exact Test). Regarding age-related variables, adult animals (>3 years) exhibited higher infection rates compared to younger cohorts, with a statistically significant difference observed in sheep (P = 0.008, Fisher’s Exact Test), while remaining non-significant in cattle (P = 0.299) and goats (P = 0.521). In terms of sex, female cattle and sheep demonstrated higher infection rates (30.0% and 20.0%, respectively) compared to males (0% in both species), whereas incidence in goats was equal (10.0% for both sexes); however, these sex-specific variations within species were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Fasciola gigantica was the sole liver fluke species recovered during post-mortem inspection. Gross pathological evaluation of affected livers revealed marked hepatic fibrosis. Histopathological examination demonstrated severe hepatocyte necrosis, chronic portal fibrosis, tissue calcification, and the presence of Fasciola gigantica cross-sections in the liver parenchyma. These findings demonstrate that Fascioliasis remains a persistent economic and public health concern in north-central Nigeria, emphasizing the critical need for enhanced veterinary inspection at slaughterhouses and improved livestock grazing management.

Abbreviations:  Fascioliasis; Fisher’s Exact Test; Incidence; Jos Abattoir; Nigeria; Pathologies; Ruminants

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Citation

Citation: Barde Israel Joshua., et al. “Incidence and Pathological Lesions of Fascioliasis in Ruminants Slaughtered at Jos Abattoir, Jos South, Plateau State, Nigeria". Acta Scientific Veterinary Sciences 8.3 (2026): 23-30.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2026 Barde Israel Joshua., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.