Prevalence of Bovine Fasciolosis; Coprological, Abattoir Survey and its Associated Financial Losses Due to Liver Condemnation at Hawassa Municipal Abattoir, Southern Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study was carried out from November, 2010 to April, 2011 with the aim of determining the prevalence, financial significance of fasciolosis and to determine the most prevalent species of liver fluke in cattle slaughtered at the study abattoir. Out of the total 316 cattle examined during the study period, 101 (31.96%) were positive with fasciola infection on postmortem examination and 86 (27.22%) were positive on coprological examination. The prevalence based on body condition of the animal was 63.33% in poor body condition, 25.62% in medium body condition and 20.75% in good body condition on abattoir survey and 61.67% in poor body condition, 22.17% in medium body condition and 7.55% in good body condition on coprological study. Fasciola hepatica was found to be the predominant fasciola species affecting cattle slaughtered in the study area, 61.37% of the total livers positive for bovine fasciolosis where infected by F. hepatica while 10.89% livers had F. gigantica, 15.84% were infected with both species and 11.88% were infected with the immature fluke. Out of the total positive livers, 38.61% were affected lightly, 46.53% were affected moderately and 14.85% were affected severely. A direct economic loss identified in cattle due to liver condemnation by fasciolosisat Hawassa municipal abattoir was estimated 291,635.00 Ethiopian Birr per annum. Hence, stakeholders should be able to regularly treat their animals with the appropriate anthelementics and awareness should be created on the prevention and control methods of fasciolosis.