The Prevalence of Fasciola Hepatica in Sheep and Goats (A Case Study of Damaturu Modern Abattoir Yobe State)

Abstract

An investigation was carried out between month of August, September and October 2025 to investigate the prevalence of fasciola hepatica among sheep and goats slaughtered at Damaturu abattoir. 120 Samples of sheep and goat feces and  fresh liver which comprises of 60 samples from goats and 60 samples from sheep were examine for fasciola hepatica eggs and adult respectively, the result revealed that sheep and goat had 37 (31%) which indicate that sheep had 19(16%) and goats had 18(15%) respectively. The sheep breed showed the highest rate of infection by fasciola hepatica than the goats. The health implication of consumption of meat contaminated by fasciola hepatica was discussed. The result concluded that liver fluke infestation in sheep and goat had a negative effect on both the state and national economy. The finding also recommended that infected liver and condemned carcass should be properly discarded either by burning or burying, the result of the study also recommended that infected and uninfected animal should be dewormed regularly at a specific interval to prevent fasciola hepatica infestation.