Acute fasciolosis outbreak with aberrant larval migration among sheep in Kashmir Valley

The present study describes the outbreak of acute fasciolosis among sheep in the twin districts of Budgam and Kupwara of the Kashmir Valley in 2019-20. To ascertain the cause of deaths, clinical examination and fecal examination of diseased sheep and post-mortem examination of the dead animals was carried out. The diseased sheep presented symptoms of cold extremities, anorexia, dullness, aloofness, depression, green-colored profuse watery discharge from nose and mouth (rumen contents) and recumbency before death. The liver showed typical migratory tracts due to fasciolosis. Fasciola spp. parasites were observed in liver and gall bladder during postmortem examination. The aberrant migration of the parasite was also noted in some cases with adult parasites recovered from lungs in only one case. All fecal samples tested negative for Fasciola spp. eggs. Most of the deaths were observed in pregnant ewes and younger sheep. Further mortality was controlled by mass dosing with Triclabendazole. The results indicated Acute Fasciolosis as the cause of death in these sheep as revealed by gross lesions and retrieval of adult Fasciola spp. from liver and gallbladder. The parasite demands serious attention due to its ill effects on animal health, economy of farmers and zoonotic implications.