OCCURRENCE AND MORPHOMETRICS OF Schistosoma bovis IN CATTLE IN ENUGU STATE SOUTH-EAST NIGERIA

Schistosomes are digenetic trematode that causes the debilitating disease schistosomiasis, which poses serious public health and veterinary concerns worldwide especially in the tropics and subtropics. Environmental changes due to natural or human activities can have impact on the epidemiology and distribution of human and animal schistosomiasis and may lead to interspecies hybridization events. This study ascertained the occurrence and morphometric characteristics of Schistosoma bovis in Enugu State. Microscopy of faecal and warm water incubation of intestinal mesenteric veins of cattle from different abattoirs was used to demonstrate eggs and extract adults of Schistosoma species. Morphotypes of adult and egg morphometry of Schistosoma bovis species were recorded. An over all Schistosoma bovis prevalence of 50.64% was recorded. Proportion of infection varied according to slaughterhouse. Gariki slaughterhouse had highest infection of 31(77.5%), followed by 23(57.5%) in New artisan, 18(45%) in Ogbete slaughterhouse, and 9(22.5%) in Mammy market slaughterhouse. For adult worms, the male mean body length was 4.6 ±1.3mm, while the female mean body length was 7.8±0.07mm, the female length was significantly (p < 0.05) longer than the male while there was no significant difference (p < 0.05) between the male and female body width. There was significant difference between the male and female oral sucker width. Schistosoma bovis eggs seen were spindle shaped possessing a terminal spine. The morphometric characteristics of eggs did not vary according to location (p < 0.05). Prevalence of Schistosoma specie in the cattle could be as a result extensive grazing and drinking from rivers used by human which suggests possibilities of hybridization and zoonotic schistosomes.