Prevalence and Risk Factors of Sheep Paramphistomiasis, Fascioliasis and Schistosomiasis in the White Nile State, Sudan

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was carried out on 156 sheep in Rabak, White Nile State, Sudan, during the period from March to June 2013. The objectives were to estimate the prevalence of paramphistomiasis, fascioliasis and schistomiasis in sheep and to investigate potential risk factors associated with each disease. The overall prevalence of sheep paramphistomiasis, fascioliasis and schistosomiasis in White Nile state (Rabak) was found to be 13.5%, 12.8% and 4.5% respectively when diagnosed by fecal sedimentation test. In the current study, univariate analysis using the Chi- square, with a confidence interval of 95% at a p-value of ≤0.25 was used to identify potential risk factors associated with fecal sedimentation test-positivity for paramphistomiasis infection in sheep. Significant risk factors associated with fecal sedimentation positive in the univariate analysis were found to be: grazing type (X2 =12.245, p = 0.00), water source (X2 =3.691, p =.055), water bodies (X2 =1.486, p = 0.223) and other diseases (X2 = 4.699, p = 0.030). Significant risk factors associated with being fecal sedimentation positive to fascioliasis in the univariate analysis were found to be :breed (X2 = 6.757, p = 0.034), grazing type (X2 =1.751 , p = 0.210),water source (X2 =1.733 , p =1.88), snail presence (X2 =1.405 , p = 0.23), water bodies (X2 =1.405 , p = 0.23), vegetation (X2 =1.405 , p = 0.23) and manure disposal (X2 = 4.699, p = 0.030). Significant risk factors associated with being fecal sedimentation positive to schistosomiasis in the univariate analysis were found to be: breed (X2 = 6.926, p = 0.031), grazing type (X2 =6.0 , p = 0.014), water source (X2 =4.608 , p =0.032), and knowledge of owner about disease (X2 =1.841 , p = 0.175),

The multivariate analysis, using logistic regression, with a confidence interval of 95% and a p- value of ≤0.05 was used to assess the association between identified significant risk factors in the univariate analysis in combination towards a positive fecal sedimentation test status for paramphistomiasis. Fascioliasis and schistosomiasis in sheep. The analysis showed an association between being fecal sedimentation test positive status for paramphistomiasis in sheep and grazing type ( Exp (B) = 10.3) and water source ( Exp (B) = .561). For fascioliasis, the analysis showed an association between being positive status for fascioliasis in sheep and breed ( Exp (B) = 3.1). As for schistosomiasis the analysis showed an association between being positive status for schistosomiasis in sheep and breed ( Exp (B) = .03), grazing type ( Exp (B) = .764), and water source ( Exp (B) = 13).