Coprological study of trematode infections and associated host risk factors in cattle during the dry season in and around Bahir Dar, northwest Ethiopia

This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence and identify risk factors associated with trematode infections in cattle in and around Bahir Dar, northwest Ethiopia. Fecal samples collected from randomly selected 369 cattle were examined using simple sedimentation technique for differential trematode eggs count. The animals were found shedding eggs of three groups of trematodes, namely Fasciola spp., paramphistomes and Schistosoma spp. The overall prevalence of trematodes was 61.0%, and specific prevalence for Fasciola, paramphistomes and Schistosoma was 20.1%, 48.5% and 16.5%, respectively. A substantial overlap was observed in the occurrence of Fasciola and paramphistomes. The prevalence of all the three trematodes identified in this study was significantly (P < 0.05) associated with body condition and breed, while the prevalence of Fasciola and paramphistomes was also associated with age. The mean (± SE) fecal egg count per gram of feces (EPG) for Fasciola, paramphistomes and Schistosoma was 4.3 (± 0.55), 25.7 (± 2.11) and 3.1 (± 0.42), respectively. EPG of Fasciola was significantly correlated with EPG of paramphistomes (P < 0.001). The EPG for all the three trematodes was associated with body condition and breed of animals (P < 0.05), while EPG for paramphistomes was also affected by age of the animals (P < 0.05). The prevalence of all the three major trematodes of animal health importance with high rate of mixed infection along with poor body condition, suggests substantial economic loss incurred due to reduced productivity in cattle in the study area.