Fasciola infection prevalence and financial loss due to liver condemnation in cattle slaughtered at Wolaita Sodo municipal abattoir, southern Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study was conducted at Wolaita Sodo municipality abattoir during November ۲۰۱۰ to April ۲۰۱۱ with the objectives to estimate the prevalence of Fasciola infection in slaughtered cattle and to assess the associated financial loss due to liver condemnation. Livers and feces of a total of ۴۱۵ randomly selected cattle slaughtered at the abattoir were examined for Fasciola and their ova, respectively. Of the ۴۱۵ livers and fecal sample examined, ۱۲۷ (۳۰.۶%) and ۱۰۳ (۲۴.۸%) were positive, respectively. Both Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica were identified during the study. However F. gigantica was more prevalent (۲۷.۰%) than F. hepatica (۳.۶%) (P<۰.۰۵). There was strong association (P<۰.۰۰۱) between animal origin and Fasciola prevalence. Fasciola prevalence was higher in cattle from low-land (۴۶.۰%) areas compared to cattle from mid altitude areas (۱۸.۰%). Comparison of coprological examination with postmortem examination by taking the latter as gold standard, demonstrated almost perfect agreement between the two (Kappa statistics= ۰.۸۶). The annual financial loss due to liver condemnation associated with liver flukes at the abattoir was estimated to be ۱۱۵,۳۶۲ Ethiopian Birr. It is concluded that fasciolosis is prevalent in areas which supply slaughter cattle to Wolaita Sodo municipal abattoir and the associated financial lose due to liver condemnation is considerable.A cross-sectional study was conducted at Wolaita Sodo municipality abattoir during November ۲۰۱۰ to April ۲۰۱۱ with the objectives to estimate the prevalence of Fasciola infection in slaughtered cattle and to assess the associated financial loss due to liver condemnation. Livers and feces of a total of ۴۱۵ randomly selected cattle slaughtered at the abattoir were examined for Fasciola and their ova, respectively. Of the ۴۱۵ livers and fecal sample examined, ۱۲۷ (۳۰.۶%) and ۱۰۳ (۲۴.۸%) were positive, respectively. Both Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica were identified during the study. However F. gigantica was more prevalent (۲۷.۰%) than F. hepatica (۳.۶%) (P<۰.۰۵). There was strong association (P<۰.۰۰۱) between animal origin and Fasciola prevalence. Fasciola prevalence was higher in cattle from low-land (۴۶.۰%) areas compared to cattle from mid altitude areas (۱۸.۰%). Comparison of coprological examination with postmortem examination by taking the latter as gold standard, demonstrated almost perfect agreement between the two (Kappa statistics= ۰.۸۶). The annual financial loss due to liver condemnation associated with liver flukes at the abattoir was estimated to be ۱۱۵,۳۶۲ Ethiopian Birr. It is concluded that fasciolosis is prevalent in areas which supply slaughter cattle to Wolaita Sodo municipal abattoir and the associated financial lose due to liver condemnation is considerable.

Keywords:

Cattle , Fasciolosis , Fasciola gigantica , F. hepatica , Liver condemnation , Ethiopia