Olaogun, Sunday CharlesByaruhanga, CharlesOchai, Sunday OchonuFosgate, Geoffrey TheodoreMarufu, Munyaradzi Christopher2023-10-032023-10-032022-11-23Olaogun, S.C.; Byaruhanga, C.; Ochai, S.O.; Fosgate, G.T.; Marufu, M.C. Comparison of Three Diagnostic Methods to Detect the Occurrence of Fasciola Species in Communally Grazed Cattle in the NorthWest Province, South Africa. Pathogens 2022, 11, 1398. https://DOI.org/10.3390/pathogens11121398.2076-2607 (online)10.3390/pathogens11121398http://hdl.handle.net/2263/92668DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author.Fasciolosis causes significant economic losses in commercial cattle herds in South Africa, but its prevalence is unknown in most communal areas. A cross-sectional study was conducted with the aim of determining the occurrence of bovine fasciolosis using three different diagnostic methods in Moretele Local Municipality in Bojanala District, NorthWest Province. Faecal samples were collected from 277 cattle of different breeds, ages, sex and faecal condition scores and examined using the sedimentation technique, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and faecal antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (coproELISA). All samples were negative for bovine fasciolosis using coproELISA. A total of 73 (26.4%) samples were positive using the qPCR, while 36 were positive using the sedimentation technique, with low faecal egg counts (1 to 20 eggs per gram). The qPCR detected the highest positivity (26.4%, 95% CI 21.3, 32.0) followed by the sedimentation test (13.0%; 95% CI 9.3, 17.5). Location, breed, sex, age and faecal consistency score were not associated with positive qPCR results (p > 0.05). There was also no significant agreement (kappa = 0.011, p = 0.843) between qPCR and the sedimentation technique for the detection of Fasciola spp. The qPCR appeared to be the most sensitive method for detection of Fasciola spp. Further studies are required on the characterisation of Fasciola spp. in communal cattle in South Africa.en© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.Antigen ELISABovineFasciola speciesReal-time PCRSedimentationPolymerase chain reaction (PCR)Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)Faecal antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (coproELISA)Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)Fasciola speciesNorth West Province, South AfricaArticle