Ovine facioliasis (Fasciola gigantica) on the Ahmadu Bello University farm.

Outbreaks of fascioliasis (Fasciola gigantica) in sheep were observed on the Ahmadu Bello University farm during the end of the dry season in 1972-74 and in 1978. During 1972 especially the pregnant ewes were affected. Pre- and post-mortem exmaination of the affected sheep showed typical signs of acute fascioliasis; the number of flukes in the liver ranged between 77 and 239. The infections were acquired when the animals grazed near the man-made lake on the farm. A limited snail survey revealed the presence of Lymnaea natalensis with the highest incidence of snails as well as of larval Fasciola infections in the snails during the beginning of the dry season. There was an indication that the control measures taken after 1974, i.e. not allowing the animals to graze around the lake especially during the wet season, prevented the occurrence of outbreaks in 1975-77.