PSXIV-7 - Comparison of detection of Fasciola in naturally infected slaughter (dairy) cattle by postmortem examination, sedimentation, antibody ELISA and real-time PCR

Abstract: Fasciolosis is a global food-borne disease affecting livestock. Management of the parasitic disease greatly depends on control and proper monitoring through early detection. Highly improved diagnostic methods to detect fasciolosis have been introduced. Limited research has paid attention to comparing four detection methods. The current study aimed to compare the detection of Fasciola in naturally infected slaughtered dairy cattle using four methods. Blood and faecal samples were collected from slaughtered cattle in three high throughput abattoirs in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, from 2020 through 2021. Postmortem liver examination was conducted to identify Fasciola spp. Then blood from condemned carcasses were analysed using antibody ELISA to detect Fasciola antibodies, sedimentation technique to detect Fasciola eggs; and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) to detect Fasciola DNA. A binomial Generalized Linear Model (GLM) and Cohen’s Kappa test were used to compare the detection rate and level of agreement across the four diagnostic methods. Significant differences (P = 0.0001) across the four diagnostic methods existed. Postmortem liver examination (94.5%) and qPCR (90.4%) compared ELISA (22.6%) and sedimentation (3.53%), respectively. There was a poor agreement between sedimentation and Ab-ELISA (kappa= -0.105, p=0.128), sedimentation and postmortem liver examination (kappa= -0.054, p=0.163); and qPCR and liver examination (kappa= -0.076, p=0.341) In conclusion, results from the current study revealed significant differences among the four detection methods. The postmortem liver examination and qPCR were more reliable, sensitive, and accurate than ELISA and sedimentation.