Prevalence Of Bovine Fasciolosis And Economic Importance Due To Liver Condemnation At Kombolcha Industrial Abattoir, Ethiopia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence and economic significance offasciolosis due to liver condemnation in indigenous adult cattle slaughtered atKombolcha industrial abattoir and to compare diagnostic efficiency of faecal andpostmortem examination. A 5-year database (2004-2009) from the abattoir was retrievedand analysed. A retrospective abattoir survey results showed a total of 24,874 cattle were slaughtered from August 2005 to Sep. 2009. During that period, 9843 livers were positive for fasciolosis and condemned. Based on the current local price of liver, an average annual monetary loss due to liver condemnation was about 1833USD. A retrospective abattoir survey revealed that the prevalence of fasciolosis was 39.6%. From the total number of cattle slaughtered (n=500) during study period, coproscopic and postmortem examination was performed for bovine fasciolosis. Of the 500 livers and faecal samples examined, 140 (28%) and 62 (12.4%) were positive for fasciolosis. 63.6% of total livers found to be positive for bovine fasciolosis were infected with F.hepatica where as F.giantica, mixed infection and immature or unidentified form of fasciola species recovered was 24.3%, 7.14% and 5%, respectively. These results indicate that F. hepatica was the most common liver fluke species that leads to high liver condemnation rates in cattle slaughtered, resulting into financial loss in the study area. There was moderateagreement between faecal examination and postmortem findings of liver lesion (k=0.53)but postmortem examination was considered a better diagnostic tool for fasciolosis in the study area. Losses due to liver condemnation at Kombolcha industrial abattoir, its economic implications should not be overlooked. Since fasciolosis constitute a major intestinal problem and liver condemnation in cattle, the grazing of cattle should be highly restricted to areas of lesser snail infected site.