An Abattoir Survey on the Prevalence and Monetary Loss of Fasciolosis among Cattle in Wolaita Sodo Town, Ethiopia

A cross sectional study was carried out between October, 2011 and April, 2012 with the aims of determining the abattoir prevalence of fasciolosis, calculating the monetary loss associated with fasciolosis and comparing coproscopy and postmortem techniques for the examination of fasciolosis among cattle slaughtered at Wolaita Sodo municipal abattoir, Ethiopia. Out of the total 300 cattle examined, 47(15.67%) and 76(25.33%) were positive for fasciolosis through coprological and postmortem examination, respectively. From this result, examination of the liver of animals during post mortem inspection was the most reliable method to detect fluke infection. Fasciola hepatica was found to be the most prevalent species in the study accounting for 42.1% where as F. gigantica, mixed and immature or unidentified forms of Fasciola species were found to be 26.31%, 29.73% and 11.84%, respectively. Statistically significant variation (P<0.05) on the prevalence of fasciolosis was observed among months and body conditions. The economic loss incurred due to condemned liver and carcass weight loss due to fasciolosis was estimated to be 1,574,482 Ethiopian birr (87,471 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.