Fascioliasis in Goat and Sheep and Its Public Health Importance

Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica are found in all province of Pakistan. Naturally occurring and experimental F. gigantica infection in sheep and goat has been reported previously from Pakistan and other countries. During the present studies F. gigantica infection in both goat and sheep was found. It was more common in goat than in sheep. While F. hepatica infection was not found in goat but this infection was more frequently observed in sheep. This infection causes severe pathological conditions and affects the health and produce capacity. Fascioliasis is also of public health importance and human cases have been reported from several countries. This information is useful for parasitologists, sheep and goat raising agencies, farmers and researchers in this field.