Prevalence of bovine fasciolosis, amplitude of liver condemnation and its economic impact in Municipal Abattoir of Mekelle, Ethiopia

Yohannes Equar, Abebaw Gashaw, Mahendra Pal and Gebererufael Girmay

Abstract
A study was carried out to determine the prevalence, the amplitude of liver condemnation, and to estimate the economic impact of bovine fasciolosis at Mekelle Municipal Abattoir. Out of 1000 cattle examined, 352 (35.2%) were found positive for fasciolosis. Based on severity of tissue damage, lightly affected liver constituted 22.7% followed by moderately affected (33.5%) and severely affected (43.7%). The fluke count made on 50% of examined livers, a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 193 flukes with an overall mean load of 62 flukes per infected liver could be observed. There was a strong relationship between body condition and fluke burden. Less fluke burden (Mean = 73) in severely-affected liver and higher in moderately affected livers (Mean = 91) was detected. The species identified in 352 livers revealed the presence of Fasciola hepatica, F. gigantica, mixed infection by both species and immature fluke in 52%, 21.9%, 14.5% and 11.6%, respectively. Fasciolosis is of significant economic importance as the liver condemnations caused an average loss of US$ 2245 per annum. Hence, this disease deserves serious attention by the various stakeholders in order to improve livestock productivity of the study area in particular and the country at large. Finally, changing the livestock production system and strategic application of safe and effective anthelmentics were recommended.

Key words: Abattoir, Fasciolosis, Fasciola gigantica, Fasciola hepatica,Liver condemnation, Mekelle