Abstract
A cross sectional study on bovine fasciolosis was carried out from October 2009 to April 2010 at Arba Minch Municipal abattoir with the aim of determining the prevalence and estimating financial loss. Out of the total 600 cattle examined during the study period, 203 were positive for Fasciola spp. infection with the prevalence rate of 33.83%. Fasciola gigantica was found to be the predominant Fasciola species affecting cattle slaughtered in the study area, 179 (88.18%) of the total livers positive for bovine fasciolosis were infected by F. gigantica, while 15 ( 7.39%) livers had F. hepatica and 9 (4.43) were infected by both species (Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica). From positive livers for the parasite, 44.33, 33.50 and 22.17% of the livers had slight, moderate and severe gross lesions, respectively. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of fasciolosis (P<0.01) among different body conditions and also among different origins. Higher prevalence of the parasite was observed in animals with poor body condition and lowland origin. The total estimated annual financial losses due to fasciolosis in the abattoir during the study period was726,561.5 ETB ($52,649.38 US) of which 49,493.29 ETB ($3,586.47 USD) was due to liver condemnation (direct) and 677,068.21 ETB ($49,062.91 USD) was because of carcass weight loss (indirect). The estimated annual financial loss showed that fasciolosis is an economically important disease in the abattoir. Therefore, there is a need for further detailed studies on the epidemiology of the disease and snail intermediate hosts found in the area and strategic measure should be taken to control the disease. Key words: Abattoir, Arba Minch, cattle, Ethiopia, Fasciolosis, financial loss, prevalence.
Highlights
Ethiopia owns huge number of ruminants with high contribution to the economy and livelihood to the people
The main objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of fasciolosis, identify the species of liver flukes involved in fasciolosis, compare the intensity of the infection with the liver lesion involved in fasciolosis and assess the financial loss due to fasciolosis in cattle slaughtered at Arba Minch Municipal Abattoir
Out of 600 livers examined of cattle slaughtered at the abattoir during the study period, 203 were positive, indicating 33.83% over all prevalence rate
Summary
Ethiopia owns huge number of ruminants with high contribution to the economy and livelihood to the people. Despite the significantly large livestock population, its contribution to the national economy is below the potential due to poor management practices, poor nutrition or low response to improved nutritional inputs, high disease incidence, and low genetic potential. Improper evaluation of public health importance is due to various individual parasitic disease and inadequate knowledge of epidemiology of disease. Fasciolosis is an important parasitic disease of domestic animals, especially cattle and the significance of fasciolosis as emerging helminthic zoonoses is highlighted (Chhabra and Singla, 2009). Fasciolosis can infect human beings (CDC, 2013) and has recently been shown to be a re-emerging and widespread zoonosis affecting many people (Esteban et al, 2003)
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