Journal of Veterinary Parasitology

Epidemiological studies were conducted on Fasciola gigantica infection in cattle and buffaloes of Western Uttar Pradesh during January 2001 to December 2004. An overall prevalence of 8.8 per cent (8.33% cattle and 9.27% buffaloes) was recorded in large ruminants with peak prevalence of the infection in the month of January (16.0% in cattle and 15.40% in buffaloes). Animals of Moradabad division were most infected (13.3% cattle and 15.0% buffaloes), followed by those of Bareilly division (10.1% cattle and 13.9% buffaloes), Meerut division (6.6% cattle and 8.1% buffaloes) and Agra division (1.5% cattle and 1.3% buffaloes). Prevalence of F. gigantica infection in slaughtered buffaloes was 43.28%, with the buffaloes slaughtered in Bareilly division having highest prevalence (46.67%). Examination of Lymnaea auricularia snails collected from various water bodies of Western Uttar Pradesh revealed that 1.57% of the 1,905 snails examined were found to be harbouring life cycle stages of F. gigantica. The prevalence of the infection in snails was highest during rainy and postrainy season (July to November), while it was lowest during drier months of the year (January to May). The results of the present study may help to devise an effective control strategy against fasciolosis in Western Uttar Pradesh.