Abstract
The parasitic Fascioliasis is a zoonotic and economically significant disease for livestock and humans, creating public health concerns around the world, including in Bangladesh. Populations of Bangladesh are more vulnerable to this parasitic infestation for their intimate interactions. To tackles the adverse effects on humans from food animals, it is exigency to know the exact prevalence and associated risk factors of zoonotic Fascioliasis among ruminants. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the authentic knowledge of potential risk factors and prevalence among livestock populations. Four globally recognized databases, including Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar, along with local databases, were used to search the related studies since 2000. A total of 38 studies were selected for the meta-analysis, and the pooled prevalence of Fascioliasis was found at 20% (95 % CI: 15-25). A subgroup analysis was also performed for: species, age, sex, study duration, and sample size. The prevalence rate was found highest in cattle and sheep at 21% (95 % CI: 15-27), female individuals at 26% (95 % CI: 16-35), aged animals at 26% (95 % CI: 15-36), and rainy season at 25% (95 % CI: 16-34). This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis in Bangladesh that offers a comprehensive picture of the prevalence of Fascioliasis in ruminants and possible risk factors. Thus, this study will assist the government, policymakers, and veterinarians in implementing effective control measures by providing more detailed information about outbreak patterns.