ELISA for Serological Diagnosis of Cattle Fasciolosis due to <em>Fasciola gigantica</em> in Mauritania

Abstract

Since erecting Diama and Manantali dams, an increase in cattle trematodosis and specially fasciolosis due to Fasciola gigantica was observed in the lower valley of the Senegal River. A serological screen test by ELISA was developed using as antigen the excretory-secretory products of adult liver flukes. The results obtained by ELISA were compared to those obtained by direct examination of the bile ducts of 176 cattle slaughtered in the lower valley of the river. Of the 40 cattle harboring adult liver flukes, 39 were positive by ELISA. In addition, 24 cattle had high antibody titers without having adult flukes in their bile ducts. Twenty-two of the 24 cattle were slaughtered between March and July, period of contamination of the animals, suggesting that the discrepancy between direct examination and ELISA could come from an earlier detection of the infection by ELISA. Most of the animals harboring single infections with other trematodes (Schistosoma bovis or Paramphistomidae) had no anti-F. gigantica antibodies. A serological and coprological survey of selected calves exposed to natural infection near the Senegal River confirmed that the infection period occurs between March and July. Moreover, a cross survey of 15 cattle herds in the lower valley of the river showed that two thirds of these herds were infected, with serological prevalences varying from 13 to 33%.

Keywords

• Bovin
• Fasciola gigantica
• Test Elisa
• Enquête pathologique
• Epidémiologie
• Fleuve Sénégal
• Mauritanie