Prevalence and economic significance of bovine fasciolosis in slaughtered cattle at Arusha abattoir, Tanzania.

The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence and economic significance of fasciolosis in cattle slaughtered at Arusha abattoir in Tanzania. A 3-year database (2005-2008) from the abattoir was retrieved and analysed. In addition, meat inspection was carried out for one month (July 2008) with focus on Fasciola infection and its associated economic loss due to liver condemnation. Results from the retrospective study revealed that 8302 (6.7%) livers out of 123790 examined livers were condemned due to fasciolosis. Analysis of primary data (meat inspection) showed that 150 of 469 cattle livers condemned were due to fasciolosis, a relative condemnation rate of 32.0% per month. Based on the current local price of liver, the economic loss per month due to liver condemnation was estimated at Tanzania shillings (TZS) 1,800,000/- (approximately US $1,500), which summed to TZS 21,600,000/- (US $18,000) per annum. The specific cause of liver fasciolosis was Fasciola gigantica . These results indicate that F. gigantica infection is an important condition that leads to high liver condemnation rates in cattle slaughtered, resulting into high financial loss. This merits for more extensive epidemiological investigations to better determine the prevalence, economic impact and public health importance of the disease.