Endalamew Simachew Getaneh, Wassie Alebachew Tilahun, Assefa Andnet Yirga, Ambaw Yihenew Getahun, Ayalew Solomon Mekuriaw, Assefa Solomon Keflie
Department of Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2025 Aug 18;19(8):e0013074. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0013074. eCollection 2025 Aug.
Fasciolosis is a parasitic disease caused by liver flukes of the genus Fasciola, predominantly Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica. This zoonotic disease significantly impacts both livestock and human populations, particularly in areas with extensive agriculture and poor sanitation. Ethiopia, one of Africa's leading sheep and goats producers, is highly affected by fasciolosis. However, despite its economic and public health importance, there is a lack of comprehensive and up-to-date evidence on the prevalence and risk factors of small ruminant (sheep and goats) fasciolosis. Therefore, the objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis (SRMA) is to estimate pooled prevalence and identify risk factors of fasciolosis among small ruminants in Ethiopia.
This SRMA was conducted based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A comprehensive systematic review was performed across five electronic databases (Google Scholar, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect), with all database searches and registers inquiries finalized on November 26, 2024. A random-effect model was used to determine the pooled prevalence of fasciolosis in sheep and goats. Heterogeneity was assessed, and the source of variation was analyzed using subgroup, sensitivity analysis and meta-regression. Publication bias assessment and sensitivity analysis were also performed to ensure the robustness of the review. Funnel plots and Egger's asymmetry tests were used to investigate publication bias.
A total of 33 studies containing 9,578 small ruminants were included in the meta-analysis. The overall pooled prevalence of fasciolosis was 32.25% (95% CI: 25.97-38.86%) with substantially high between-study heterogeneity (inconsistency index (I2)) = 97.3%, p < 0.01). Among the variables analyzed for heterogeneity, species, publication years, season of data collection, and regions of the study were significant predictors of heterogeneity The sub-group analysis showed that the prevalence of fasciolosis among sheep and goats was 37.18% (95% CI; 31.06-43.51%) and 12.76% (95% CI; 4.06-25.19%), respectively. According to the region-based subgroup analysis, studies taken from Amhara region had the highest prevalence of fasciolosis among small ruminants (43.99% (95% CI: 31.83-56.52%)).
This study highlights fasciolosis as a significant threat to Ethiopian small ruminants. Policymakers and veterinarians should prioritize evidence-based control programs in regions with high disease burden, through seasonal deworming, pasture rotation to disrupt snail ecology, and improved veterinary access in underserved areas.
片形吸虫病是一种由片形吸虫属的肝吸虫引起的寄生虫病，主要是肝片形吸虫和巨片形吸虫。这种人畜共患疾病对牲畜和人类群体都有重大影响，特别是在农业广泛且卫生条件差的地区。埃塞俄比亚是非洲主要的绵羊和山羊生产国之一，深受片形吸虫病的影响。然而，尽管其在经济和公共卫生方面具有重要意义，但缺乏关于小型反刍动物（绵羊和山羊）片形吸虫病患病率和危险因素的全面且最新的证据。因此，本系统评价和荟萃分析（SRMA）的目的是估计埃塞俄比亚小型反刍动物片形吸虫病的合并患病率并确定危险因素。
本SRMA是根据系统评价和荟萃分析的首选报告项目（PRISMA）指南进行的。在五个电子数据库（谷歌学术、Embase、PubMed、科学网和ScienceDirect）中进行了全面的系统评价，所有数据库搜索和登记查询于2024年11月26日完成。采用随机效应模型确定绵羊和山羊片形吸虫病的合并患病率。评估了异质性，并使用亚组分析、敏感性分析和元回归分析了变异来源。还进行了发表偏倚评估和敏感性分析以确保评价的稳健性。使用漏斗图和Egger不对称检验来调查发表偏倚。
荟萃分析共纳入33项研究，包含9578只小型反刍动物。片形吸虫病的总体合并患病率为32.25%（95%CI：25.97 - 38.86%），研究间异质性极高（不一致指数（I2）=97.3%，p < 0.01）。在分析的异质性变量中，物种、发表年份、数据收集季节和研究地区是异质性的显著预测因素。亚组分析表明，绵羊和山羊的片形吸虫病患病率分别为37.18%（95%CI；31.06 - 43.51%）和12.76%（95%CI；4.06 - 25.19%）。根据基于地区的亚组分析，阿姆哈拉地区的研究中，小型反刍动物的片形吸虫病患病率最高（43.99%（95%CI：31.83 - 56.52%））。
本研究强调片形吸虫病是埃塞俄比亚小型反刍动物的重大威胁。政策制定者和兽医应优先在疾病负担高的地区实施基于证据的控制计划，通过季节性驱虫、轮作牧场以破坏蜗牛生态以及改善服务不足地区的兽医服务可及性来实现。
