Veterinary Science & Technology

A Clinico-Pathological Study, Lesion Characterization and Financial Loss Due to Fasciolosis and Hepatic Necrobacillosis in Cattle Slaughtered at Municipal Abattoirs of Central Ethiopia

Abstract

Jirata Shiferaw Abosse*, Wondimu Hika Uma, Abdi Feyisa Fufa, Yacob Hailu Tolosa and Debella Tewaya Duguma

Fasciolosis also called liver flukes is a highly pathogenic parasitic disease of humans and the livestock caused by flatworms of the genus Fasciola. Its pathology and pathogenicity is more of in liver organ and results in tissue destruction, inflammation, local or systemic toxic/allergic reactions, internal bleeding and it leads to secondary bacterial complications. A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2019 to June 2020 to assess a clinico-pathological study, lesion characterization, and financial loss due to fasciolosis and hepatic necrobacillosis in cattle slaughtered at three municipal abattoirs of central Ethiopia. Sixty cattle were selected using systematic random sampling for this study, from which blood and liver tissue of the same animals were collected before and after slaughter. Tissue sampling for bacterial culture and histopathology were collected from the infected liver. Post-mortem inspection results, 41.6% (25/60) gross pathologic lesions, of these, 20% (12/60) were mixed infection of liver fluke and Fusobacterium necrophorum while 8% (5/60) and 13.3% (8/60) of the infections were due to Fusobacterium necrophorum and liver flukes alone. The histopathologic results indicated heavy infiltration of inflammatory cells, biliary cirrhosis, extensive fibrous connective tissue proliferation in the hepatic capsule, and periportal infiltration of inflammatory cells. The hematological results indicated that PCV, Hb, and RBC’s were lower in the infected cattle while, the WBC’s were higher. The biochemical analysis of blood samples showed that the liver enzymes AST, ALT, and ALP were significantly higher in animals with hepatocyte degeneration. The calculated financial losses due to liver condemnation by fascioliasis and hepatic necrobascillosis were 1,747,200 ETB/($56361.3) annually. The study concluded that the liver flukes and infections due to Fusobacterium necrophorum are the major problems of cattle slaughtered at the selected abattoirs of the study areas. Thus, corrective measures and further investigations are recommended to lessen economic loss from fasciollosis caused liver condemnation.