Fasciolaspecies and their vertebrate and snail intermediate hosts in East and Southern Africa: a review

Abstract

AbstractA systematic review was conducted focusing on the distribution ofFasciolaspecies and their snail intermediate hosts (IHs) in East and Southern Africa. The reviewed literature showed that bothFasciola hepaticaandF. giganticaare present in East and Southern Africa, and infect a wide range of domestic and wild ruminants.Fasciola giganticawas reported in six East African and five Southern African countries, whereRadix natalensis(found in low altitudes) was reported to be the main IH.Fasciola hepaticawas reported in Tanzania and Ethiopia (East Africa), and in South Africa and Zimbabwe (Southern Africa), whereGalba truncatula(found in high altitudes) was documented as the IH in all countries except in Zimbabwe. BothFasciolaspecies were documented in Tanzania, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. An overlap of the two was observed in areas with an intermediate altitude in Ethiopia and South Africa, wherePseudosuccinea columellawas widespread and assumed to transmit both species.Pseudosuccinea columellahas been reported in South Africa and Namibia, and proven to transmitF. giganticain South Africa; its role in Namibia in the transmission ofFasciolaspecies has not been reported. Other lymnaeid species such asR. rubiginosawere reported in South Africa, andR. auriculariain South Africa and Botswana; their role in the transmission ofFasciolaspecies has not been proven. Future studies should aim to determine the role ofP. columellain the geographical spread of the two species in East and Southern African countries.