Fasciola infection prevalence and financial loss due to liver condemnation in cattle slaughtered at Wolaita Sodo municipal abattoir, southern Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study was conducted at Wolaita Sodo municipality abattoir during November 2010 to April 2011 with the objectives to estimate the prevalence of Fasciola infection in slaughtered cattle and to assess the associated financial loss due to liver condemnation. Livers and feces of a total of 415 randomly selected cattle slaughtered at the abattoir were examined for Fasciola and their ova, respectively. Of the 415 livers and fecal sample examined, 127 (30.6%) and 103 (24.8%) were positive, respectively. Both Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica were identified during the study. However F. gigantica was more prevalent (27.0%) than F. hepatica (3.6%) (P<0.05). There was strong association (P<0.001) between animal origin and Fasciola prevalence. Fasciola prevalence was higher in cattle from low-land (46.0%) areas compared to cattle from mid altitude areas (18.0%). Comparison of coprological examination with postmortem examination by taking the latter as gold standard, demonstrated almost perfect agreement between the two ( Kappa statistics= 0.86). The annual financial loss due to liver condemnation associated with liver flukes at the abattoir was estimated to be 115,362 Ethiopian Birr. It is concluded that fasciolosis is prevalent in areas which supply slaughter cattle to Wolaita Sodo municipal abattoir and the associated financial lose due to liver condemnation is considerable.