Fascioliasis in Cattle and Goat Slaughtered at Calabar Abattoirs

Abstract

The occurrence of fascioliasis among trade ruminants (cattle and goat) slaughtered at Calabar abattoirs was investigated using centrifugal method, haemocytometer and histological preparations for fecal, blood and liver tissue examinations respectively. One hundred and seventy nine (44.8%) of 400 cattle and 126 (36.0%) of 350 goat respectively had fascioliasis. Parasite intensity ranged between 8 - 10 flukes per liver of infected cattle and 4 - 5 flukes per liver of infected goat. Infected liver of the two ruminants were damaged. Damaged Hepatic parenchyma resulting in severe haemorrhage, thickening and gross fibrosis of bile duct were observed. Dislodge hepatic cells became wandering cells amidst macrophages within the sinusoid. The central vein of cattle infected by Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica was enlarged and laden with debris resulting in obstruction of liver function such as protein synthesis. This caused the liver to be rejected. Seven to seventeen percent of infected cattle liver and2 – 7% of infected goat liver were discarded. Excessive leucocytosis with marked eosinophilia was observed in infected animal blood. It is important to examine carcasses of ruminants slaughtered in abattoirs before presentation for public consumption.