Evaluation of Coprological and Serological Techniques For Diagnosis of Bovine Fasciolosis

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence bovine fasciolosis in Erzurum Province in Turkey and to evaluate sensitivity and specificity of the coproscopy by sedimentation and antibody-ELISA tests considering the copro-ELISA test as the gold standard. A total of 282 cattle (230 female and 52 male; Holstein, n=6; Simmental, n= 6; Brown Swiss, n= 159; and crossbreed cattle, n= 111), at an average of 3.55 +/- 2.49 [mean +/- SD, (range 1.00-15.00)] years old, from local farms were monitored for fasciolosis between April 2011 and June 2011. Animals were grazed and watered on communal areas during days and housed in barns at nights. Blood and fecal samples were collected for coproscopy and serology for F. hepatica. Data were subjected to Chi-square analysis, analysis of variance, and receiver operating characteristics curve development. The prevalence rate was 35.46, 61.70, and 34.04% when assessed by the copro-ELISA, antibody-ELISA, and sedimentation tests, respectively (P < 0.0001). Cattle that were female, purebred, and in advanced ages (>= 6 years) had greater fasciolosis prevalence than those were male, crossbred, and in younger ages (2 <= years) (40.4 vs. 3.6%, P < 0.0002 for sex; 22.8 vs. 55.0%, P < 0.0001 for breed; and 57.8 vs. 20.0%, P < 0.0001 for age) as attained by the copro-ELISA test. Sensitivity and specificity were 100.0% and 59.3% for the antibody-ELISA technique and 96.0% and 100% for the sedimentation technique, considering copro-ELISA technique gold standard. These data suggest that fasciolosis prevalence can greatly vary by the diagnostic methods and should be cautiously interpreted as they reflect disease status at different stages.