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Research Article


Zoonotic transmission of Fasciola hepatica in Northern Iraq: Combined coprological and molecular evidence from livestock and humans

Othman Jamal Nassrullah, Brwa M. Ali Essamaddin, Khalid Jabar Aziz, Basim Abdulwahid Ali, Hardi F. Marif, Nivar Othamn Jamal, Kazhin Azad Muhammad, Sima Sdiq Hassan, Yadgar Salah Rasul.


Abstract
Background:
Fascioliasis remains a significant neglected zoonotic infection affecting both livestock and humans worldwide, leading to considerable economic losses and public health concerns, particularly in endemic regions.

Aim:
This study aimed to determine the prevalence and molecular characterization of Fasciola spp. in livestock and humans and to identify the circulating species using molecular and phylogenetic analyses.

Methods:
Between 2024 and 2025, 364 fecal samples were collected from sheep (n = 120), goats (n = 56), cattle (n = 76), and humans (n = 112). Samples were initially screened for Fasciola eggs using microscopic examination, followed by molecular confirmation using 28S rRNA polymerase chain reaction and species differentiation using cox1-based primers. Positive isolates were sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed. Statistical associations between infection and host factors (species, age, and sex) were evaluated using Fisher’s exact test.

Results:
Microscopic examination revealed prevalence rates of 9.1%, 8.9%, 11.8%, and 11.6% in sheep, goats, cattle, and humans, respectively, with no significant difference among host species (p = 0.88). Infection was not significantly associated with age or sex among animals (n = 252). The age-specific prevalence in animals was 9.3% in those <1 year, 10.8% in those aged 1–3 years, and 9.0% in those aged >3 years (p = 0.897), whereas the sex-related prevalence was 5.7% in males and 13.1% in females (p = 0.061). Molecular analysis confirmed that 38 positive samples produced the expected 618-bp amplicon, including 11 sheep, 5 goats, 9 cattle, and 13 human samples. Species identification using cox1 primers detected five Fasciola hepatica isolates, while no amplification was obtained for Fasciola gigantica. Sequence analysis (GenBank accession numbers: PX529836 and PX530408–PX530411) revealed 99%–99.5% similarity with global F. hepatica 28S rRNA sequences. Phylogenetic analysis clustered the isolates within F. hepatica lineage I and showed close relationships with isolates from Iran and Chile.

Conclusion:
The findings confirm that F. hepatica is the predominant species infecting both livestock and humans, with low genetic diversity suggesting common environmental transmission pathways between animals and humans.

Key words: Fasciola hepatica; Iraq; Molecular epidemiology; One Health.


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Nassrullah OJ, Essamaddin BMA, Aziz KJ, Ali BA, Marif HF, Jamal NO, Muhammad KA, Hassan SS, Rasul YS. Zoonotic transmission of Fasciola hepatica in Northern Iraq: Combined coprological and molecular evidence from livestock and humans. Open Vet. J.. 2026; 16(8): 5193-5201. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i8.15

Web Style

Nassrullah OJ, Essamaddin BMA, Aziz KJ, Ali BA, Marif HF, Jamal NO, Muhammad KA, Hassan SS, Rasul YS. Zoonotic transmission of Fasciola hepatica in Northern Iraq: Combined coprological and molecular evidence from livestock and humans. https://www.openveterinaryjournal.com/?mno=315533 [Access: August 08, 2026]. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i8.15

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Nassrullah OJ, Essamaddin BMA, Aziz KJ, Ali BA, Marif HF, Jamal NO, Muhammad KA, Hassan SS, Rasul YS. Zoonotic transmission of Fasciola hepatica in Northern Iraq: Combined coprological and molecular evidence from livestock and humans. Open Vet. J.. 2026; 16(8): 5193-5201. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i8.15


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Nassrullah OJ, Essamaddin BMA, Aziz KJ, Ali BA, Marif HF, Jamal NO, Muhammad KA, Hassan SS, Rasul YS. Zoonotic transmission of Fasciola hepatica in Northern Iraq: Combined coprological and molecular evidence from livestock and humans. Open Vet. J.. (2026), [cited August 08, 2026]; 16(8): 5193-5201. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i8.15


Harvard Style

Nassrullah, O. J., Essamaddin, . B. M. A., Aziz, . K. J., Ali, . B. A., Marif, . H. F., Jamal, . N. O., Muhammad, . K. A., Hassan, . S. S. & Rasul, . Y. S. (2026) Zoonotic transmission of Fasciola hepatica in Northern Iraq: Combined coprological and molecular evidence from livestock and humans. Open Vet. J., 16 (8), 5193-5201. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i8.15


Turabian Style

Nassrullah, Othman Jamal, Brwa M. Ali Essamaddin, Khalid Jabar Aziz, Basim Abdulwahid Ali, Hardi F. Marif, Nivar Othamn Jamal, Kazhin Azad Muhammad, Sima Sdiq Hassan, and Yadgar Salah Rasul. 2026. Zoonotic transmission of Fasciola hepatica in Northern Iraq: Combined coprological and molecular evidence from livestock and humans. Open Veterinary Journal, 16 (8), 5193-5201. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i8.15


Chicago Style

Nassrullah, Othman Jamal, Brwa M. Ali Essamaddin, Khalid Jabar Aziz, Basim Abdulwahid Ali, Hardi F. Marif, Nivar Othamn Jamal, Kazhin Azad Muhammad, Sima Sdiq Hassan, and Yadgar Salah Rasul. "Zoonotic transmission of Fasciola hepatica in Northern Iraq: Combined coprological and molecular evidence from livestock and humans." Open Veterinary Journal 16 (2026), 5193-5201. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i8.15


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Nassrullah, Othman Jamal, Brwa M. Ali Essamaddin, Khalid Jabar Aziz, Basim Abdulwahid Ali, Hardi F. Marif, Nivar Othamn Jamal, Kazhin Azad Muhammad, Sima Sdiq Hassan, and Yadgar Salah Rasul. "Zoonotic transmission of Fasciola hepatica in Northern Iraq: Combined coprological and molecular evidence from livestock and humans." Open Veterinary Journal 16.8 (2026), 5193-5201. Print. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i8.15


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Nassrullah, O. J., Essamaddin, . B. M. A., Aziz, . K. J., Ali, . B. A., Marif, . H. F., Jamal, . N. O., Muhammad, . K. A., Hassan, . S. S. & Rasul, . Y. S. (2026) Zoonotic transmission of Fasciola hepatica in Northern Iraq: Combined coprological and molecular evidence from livestock and humans. Open Veterinary Journal, 16 (8), 5193-5201. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2026.v16.i8.15


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