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1 University of Nairobi, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,

CLINICAL FASCIOLIASIS IN A HERD OF FREE-RANGING IMPALA ( Aepyceros melampus ) IN KISUMU IMPALA PARK, KENYA MUCHEMI, G.M. 1 , MUNENE, E 2 ., MUNGAI, B.N. 3 and KIRIAMA, L 4. 1 University of Nairobi, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,

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1 University of Nairobi, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,

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  1. CLINICAL FASCIOLIASIS IN A HERD OF FREE-RANGING IMPALA (Aepyceros melampus) IN KISUMU IMPALAPARK, KENYAMUCHEMI, G.M.1, MUNENE, E2., MUNGAI, B.N.3 and KIRIAMA, L4 1 University of Nairobi, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Dept. of Public Health Pharmacology and Toxicology, P.O Box 29053, NAIROBI. 2 Institute of Primate Research, P.O. Box 24481, Karen, NAIROBI 3 Kenya Medical Research Institute, P.O. Box 54840, NAIROBI 4 Kenya Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 40241, NAIROBI

  2. INTRODUCTION Kisumu Impala Park: Established in 1971 to provide sanctuary to the Impala antelopes that were freely ranging in Kisumu Town and its suburbs. • The animals were facing habitat threats from human settlements and being knocked down by vehicles as they crossed roads. • Kisumu Impala Park borders Kisumu Town to the East and Lake Victoria to the West. • The antelopes drink either from the marshy areas around the lake shores or drainage channels that empty into the lake. • There were 35 Impala comprising adult males, females and their young at the time of this investigation.

  3. Literature Review ■ Diseases caused by Liver flukes (Fasciola) and gastrointestinal or stomach flukes (paramphistomes) lead to major economic losses in cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats. ■ Estimated that more than 300 million bovines and 250 million sheep are exposed to the parasites worldwide causing losses amounting to over US$ 3 billion per year (FAO Report, 1994). ■ Wild animals (antelopes, other wild ruminants, zebra, rabbits and other herbivorous mammals) may serve as hosts and reservoirs for pasture contamination. ■ Humans can also be infected if they consume vegetables from naturally contaminated creeks.

  4. THE PARASITES • Fasciola hepatica (Liver fluke) • Fasciola gigantica (Giant liver fluke)

  5. SNAIL HOSTS Morphology Lymnaea sp.

  6. LIFE CYCLELife cycle of Fasciloa spp.

  7. Fascioliasis in Kisumu Impala Park ■ The Impala antelopes were observed to be in poor body condition with exposed rib cages and rough hair coats. ■ There was recent history of high mortality of young fawns and neonates and intermittent diarrhea in the adult animals. ■ This was despite the fact that the semi-tame antelopes were routinely dewormed for nematode parasites.

  8. Materials and Methods ■ A preliminary survey of the impala grazing range was carried out during which three (3) fresh well formed faecal samples were collected along the grazing trails. ■ The samples were preserved in 70% alcohol and transported to the laboratory where they were analyzed using the formol-ether faecal concentration method (Munene et al, 1998)

  9. Snail Survey in Drainage Channels A snail survey of the drainage channels was carried out and the following snail species collected: Biomphalaria sudanica species 96 Lymnaea natalenis 28 Bulinus species 6 Melanoides tuberculata 4 Ceratophallus species 86

  10. Results ■All three (3) samples were found to be heavily infected with Fasciola gigantica and Fasciolopsis buskii eggs. No other nematode parasites ova were observed. ■The snail species were screened for cercariae shedding under natural daylight and the following results obtained. - Biomphalaria and Bulius species – negative for mammalian schistome cercariae - Lymnaea natalensis – negative (This snail is presumed to be the intermediate host for both Fasciola gigantica and Fasciola hepatica).

  11. Treatment ■ The animals were preconditioned by feeding regularly with dairy meal for five days. This provided an opportunity to condition them to a feeding routine and closer observation before treatment. ■ For treatment 10 boluses of Nilzan (R) (each bolus contains 1.0 gm levamisole and 1.4 gm oxyclozanide) were pulverized and thoroughly mixed with the dairy meal.

  12. Post Treatment Observation ■ There was remarkable improvement in the whole herd one month after treatment. ■ Their body conditions improved, the hair coats became smooth and the animals were more active and with bright demeanor. ■ The intermittent diarrhea stopped and gradual decline in fawn mortality was observed within three months.

  13. Follow up Sampling ■ A repeat collection of faecal samples from the impala grazing range yielded negative results ■Except from one chronically lame female which had Fasciola gigantica and unidentified strongyle eggs. ■ This was possibly because she was unable to access the feed used in the previous treatment. She was individually isolated and treated as above and showed remarkable improvement.

  14. Discussion ■ Although results of Lymnaea natalensis snail screening were negative for cercariae -- does not exclude them from the transmission of Fascioliasis in the park. ■ Many Factors determine cercariae shedding -- stage of the life cycle. --the source of the infective snails ■ Report highlights the fact contrary to belief that free-ranging wild animals have developed mechanisms to cope with parasitic infections There are situations that can lead to serious clinical gastrointestinal infections!

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