Veterinary officials in the southern Philippines warned a potential outbreak of liver fluke diseases as tests showed an abrupt surge in the number of positive cases among large livestock in the area during the past weeks, the Philippine Star reported Saturday.
Dr. Lorna Lamorena, veterinarian in South Cotabato Province, said laboratory tests on samples recently taken from cows, water buffalos, and horses in the province's 10 towns showed the level of infection at 89.5 percent.
"This is already very alarming because at that rate we can already consider that there is an outbreak of Fasciolosis (or liver fluke diseases)," the paper cited her as saying.
Lamorena blamed the erratic weather condition as the cause of Fasciolosis infection surge. The sudden changes of the weather from dry to wet are considered as among the risk factors that favor the spread of the disease, she said.
Fasciolosis is a worm infestation caused by the parasite that settles in the biliary ducts of the livestock and even humans, a report from the Department of Science and Technology website noted.
It said clinical signs of this disease in cattle showed it could eventually cause loss of weight, muscle atrophy, fatigue, weakness and significant loss of appetite. The disease may be fatal if it remained untreated.
There are no reports of human infection so far.
Source: Xinhua
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