FASCIOLOSIS AND SNAIL FAUNA OF POTOHAR REGION, PAKISTAN: IMMUNODIAGNOSIS IN SMALL RUMINANTS AND THE POTENTIAL SNAIL VECTORS

The present study describes the Immunodiagnosis of Fasciola hepatica(Liver fluke) infection in small ruminants and identification of snail fauna serving as intermediate host(s) in Potohar region, Pakistan. High seroprevalence rate was observed by using the Enzyme linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) as compared to traditional coprological methods. The results confirmed that fasciolosis is one of the major health hazard affecting the production potential of livestock animals grazing in Potohar region, Pakistan. Furthermore, the identification of snail fauna of Potohar region was also carried out to find out the potential intermediate host(s) for trematode parasites. The results revealed that a total of sixteen species of freshwater and terrestrial gastropods belonging to ten families and eleven genera were described in Potohar region. The Potohar region has great potential for having large number of water bodies thus making favorable condition for the development and survival of various snail species. However, there is a need for comprehensive studies at livestock farms to work out the status of fasciolosis in ruminants such studies would be helpful to develop control strategy.