Endalamew, S. G.; Wassie, A. T.; Assefa, A. Y.; Ambaw, Y. G.; Ayalew, S. M.; Assefa, S. K.

Background: Fasciolosis is a parasitic disease caused by liver flukes of the genus Fasciola, predominantly Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica. This zoonotic disease significantly impacts both livestock and human populations, particularly in areas with extensive agriculture and poor sanitation. Ethiopia, one of the Africa\'s leading ovine and caprine producers, is highly affected by fasciolosis. However, despite its economic and public health importance, there is a lack of comprehensive up-to-date evidence on prevalence and risk factors of small ruminant fasciolosis. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aims to explore the pooled prevalence of fasciolosis among small ruminants (ovine and caprine) in Ethiopia. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A comprehensive systematic review was performed across five electronic databases (Google Scholar, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect), with all database searches and registers inquiries finalized on November 26, 2024. A random-effect model was used to determine the pooled prevalence of fasciolosis in ovine and caprine. Heterogeneity was assessed, and the source of variation was analyzed using subgroup and sensitivity analysis. Publication bias assessment and meta-regression analysis were also performed to ensure the robustness of the review. Funnel plots and Eggers asymmetry tests were used to investigate publication bias. Results: Overall, 33 studies were included in the meta-analysis, and the pooled prevalence of fasciolosis in ovine and caprine was 32.25% (95% CI: 25.97-38.86%). This study revealed substantial between-study heterogeneity (inconsistency index (I2)) = 97.3%, p < 0.0001). Among the variables analyzed for heterogeneity, species, publication years, season of data collection, and regions of the study were the most significant predictors of heterogeneity The sub-group analysis showed that the prevalence of fasciolosis among ovine and caprine was 37.18% (95% CI; 31.06-43.51%) and 12.76% (95% CI; 4.06-25.19%), respectively. According to the region-based subgroup meta-analysis, studies taken from Amhara region had the highest prevalence of fasciolosis among small ruminants (43.99% (95% CI: 31.83-56.52%)). Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analysis emphasize fasciolosis as a pervasive threat to Ethiopian small ruminants. Policymakers, healthcare providers, and communities should collaborate to integrate robust prevention mechanisms for the disease, establishing standardized protocols for Fasciola monitoring, reporting, and mitigation.