HERD EVALUATION BY ENZYME-LINKED-IMMUNOSORBENT-ASSAY FOR THE DETERMINATION OF FASCIOLA-HEPATICA INFECTION IN SHEEP AND CATTLE FROM THE ALTIPLANO OF BOLIVIA

A study was designed to determine by ELISA the seroprevalence of fasci olosis both in sheep (29 herds totaling 184 sheep), in samples collect ed in 1988, and in cattle (41 herds totaling 299 animals, samples coll ected in 1988; 34 herds totaling 147 animals, samples collected in 198 9) in the same area of Corapata in which a seroprevalence survey had b een done in humans. The results show high seropositivity in sheep (89% ) and lower seropositivity in cattle (58% in 1988, and 57% in 1989), T he seroprevalence in cattle in 1988 was essentially identical to that detected in 1989. Faecal examinations were also done in the 1988 sheep and 1989 cattle, Results of the study showed that of the 184 sheep ex amined, 22 were positive for F. hepatica eggs, while 163 were positive by serology, All of the 22 sheep which were positive parasitologicall y were also positive serologically for a sensitivity of 100%. On the o ther hand, of 147 cattle tested, 38 were positive parasitologically wh ile 84 were positive serologically. Of the 38 positives for F. hepatic a eggs, 31 were positive by serology (sensitivity 82%).