Fasciolosis: Prevalence, Evaluation of Flotation and Simple Sedimentation Diagnostic Techniques and Monetary Loss due to Liver Condemnation in Cattle Slaughtered at Wolaita Soddo Municipal Abattoir, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Fasciolosis is a serious problem in Ethiopia when cattle rising are of major importance to the local economy. A cross-sectional study was carried out from November 2013 to March 2014 to determine the prevalence, to evaluate the specificity and sensitivity of the flotation and sedimentation tests for the diagnosis of fasciolosis and economic importance of fasciolosis using postmortem examination on a total of 500 cattle slaughtered at Wolaita Soddo municipal abattoir, southern Ethiopia. Out of the 500 cattle examined, 143(26.8%), 97(19.4%) and 55(11%) were positive for fasciolosis using liver inspection, sedimentation and flotation techniques respectively. Of the total (143) infected livers by fasciola species, Fasciola hepatica was the most prevalent one (46.1%) whereas F. gigantica , mixed and immature or undifferentiated forms of fasciola species recovered were 27.3%, 18.2% and 9.1% respectively. There was a statistically significant (P < 0.05) variation in prevalence between the study months where the highest (40.83%) and lowest (12%) prevalence were recorded in November and March respectively, and there were also a statistically significant (P = 0.00) variation was observed in the prevalence of fasciolosis among animals with poor (74%), medium (27.35%) and good (4.52%) body conditions. Statistically no significant variation (P > 0.05) in the prevalence of fasciolosis was observed based on the origin of the animals. The mean fluke burden in the affected livers was 52 flukes per liver. As to the liver severity of infection, from a total of 143 infected livers 30.8%, 52.4% and 16.8% were lightly, moderately and severely affected respectively. Taking liver examination as gold standard for diagnosis of fasciolosis, the sensitivity of the direct sedimentation technique was found to be 67.83% and the specificity was 100% with substantial agreement (k = 0.75) between the two methods and the sensitivity and specificity of flotation technique was found to be 38.46% and 100% respectively with moderate agreement (k = 0.472) between the two tests. The economic loss incurred due to condemned liver and carcass weight loss due to fasciolosis was estimated to be 3,564,990.00 ETB (187,631.053 USD) per annum. Thus, fasciolosis was proved to be widely distributed disease with relatively high prevalence and great impact on the economy. Therefore, more detailed study on ecology and biology of the snail and its effective control measures should be planned.

Keywords: Abattoir, Bovine, Fasciolosis, Monetary loss, Prevalence, southern Ethiopia