The Prevalence and Economic Impact of Bovine Fasciolosis in Mekelle Municipal Abattoir

A cross sectional survey was conducted at Mekelle Municipal abattoir in Tigray region, northern Ethiopia, from November 2007, to April 2008 to determine the prevalence of bovine fasciolosis and to assess its economic impact. A total of 668 bovine liver wer e examined in the abattoir and267 (39.97 %) were found to be affected by fasciolosis. Out of the total positives 211 (79%) and 56(21%) were adult and young cattle respectively, no statistical significance difference between age groups (p>0.05). Study shown 182 (68.1%) and 85 (31.8%) were positive from high land and low land respectively. Based on the body condition animals having body score 1, 2 and 3 were found 10.4%, 79.4% and 15.9% positive respectively. F. hepatica, F. gigantic species recovered from in fected livers were 62.1%, 13% and 11%, mixed infection and 13.1% immature fluke. In the present study, no direct relationship between fluke count and magnitude of liver lesion in moderately affected liver. The magnitude of livers affected by fasciolosis is 96 (35.8%), 112(42.2 %) and 59 (22%) light, moderate and severe lesion respectively. From the total feacal samples of cattle examined 50 (7.4 %) were found egg positive that of 267 (39. 9%) post mort empositive. The economic loss due to fasciolosis was su mmarized as 122, 414.47 Ethiopian Birr during the study period and 183.25 per head of the animal. This is obviously great economic loss. In the study area bovine fasciolosis significantly prevalent parasitic disease affecting the health, productivity of animals and has economic impact.