Veterinary World, Vol.2(4):129-132 RESEARCH
Comparison of different diagnostic techniques
against Fasciolosis in Buffaloes
Salam M.M.,
A. Maqbool, A. Naureen and
M. Lateef*
Department of Parasitology,
Abstract
The present study was conducted to compare different
diagnostic tests viz., Direct Smear (DS), Agar gel precipitation (AGP),
Sedimentation (Sd), and Zinc
Sulfate (ZnSO4)
flotation for fasciolosis in dairy buffaloes as well
as the economic losses due to fasciolosis. A total of
200 faecal samples were examined and DS, AGP, Sd, and ZnSO4
flotation techniques showed an overall prevalence of 2, 8, 5 and 4%,
respectively. The highest agreement was observed between Sd and ZnSO4 (0.88,
95%CI; 0.74-1.02) followed by AGP and Sd (0.75,
95%CI; 0.62-0.88), ZnSO4 and DS
(0.65, 95%CI; 0.52-0.78), AGP and ZnSO4 (0.648,
95%CI; 0.51-0.77), DS and Sd (0.55, 95%CI;
0.43-0.68), and DSM and AGP (0.38, 95%CI; 0.27-0.48). By taking DS as a gold
standard, all tests showed 100 percent sensitivity results and same trend was
observed in case of negative predictive values (NPV). Highest specificity was
shown by ZnSO4, followed by Sd
and AGP. Similar trends were observed in the positive predictive values (PPV).
Then, by taking AGP as gold standard, all tests showed 100 percent specificity
and positive predictive values (PPV) while, Sd showed highest sensitivity followed by ZnSO4 and
AGP and similar trend was observed regarding NPV of tests. To this end, most
effective test is AGP followed by Sd,
ZnSO4 and DS
method. Moreover, AGP is the most suitable method for diagnosing the fasciolosis in early stages. Total economic losses due to fasciolosis during three months (Oct. – Dec. 2004) were
found very high i.e Rs.
1016400.
Keywords: Fasciola
hepatica, comparison, diagnostic tests, buffaloes