Serological and Coprological Studies of Bovine Fasciolosis in the Pothwar Region, Pakistan.

The present study was aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using excretory-secretory antigen (ESA) and Zinc sulphate sedimentation technique for coprodiagnosis. A comparison was made between both techniques for rapid and accurate diagnosis based on 200 serum and faecal samples from cattle (n=117) and buffaloes (n=83). In the first step, ELISA was standardized by using sera from Fasciola infected and non-infected animals. The level of sensitivity observed was 100%, while 95% specificity against Gigantocotyle explanatum and Paramphistomum spp. or a mixed infection with both parasites was noted. Fasciolosis rate was significantly (P<0.05) higher in buffaloes in which 60% prevalence was found for indirect ELISA and 53% in case of coprological analysis, while on other hand in cattle prevalence rate was 50 and 37%, respectively. The results showed a significant (P<0.05) breed difference in cattle. Furthermore, the significant difference was noted in buffaloes with reference to age and sex groups. After contrasting data from ELISA and faecal analysis, 11% of the sera analyzed had positive values of indirect-ELISA and negative by faecal analysis. The findings suggest that indirect ELISA is an efficient diagnostic technique and combination of both techniques could be useful for accurate diagnosis of fascioliasis in endemic areas. It is recommended that both cattle and buffaloes should be screened by applying both serological and coprological techniques in other agro-ecological zones of Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]