ISPUB.COM The Internet Journal of Veterinary Medicine Volume 8 Number 2 1 of 7 Prevalence Of Bovine Fasciolosis And Economic Importance Due To Liver Condemnation At Kombolcha Industrial Abattoir, Ethiopia N Ibrahim, P Wasihun, T Tolosa Citation N Ibrahim, P Wasihun, T Tolosa. Prevalence Of Bovine Fasciolosis And Economic Importance Due To Liver Condemnation At Kombolcha Industrial Abattoir, Ethiopia. The Internet Journal of Veterinary Medicine. 2009 Volume 8 Number 2. Abstract The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence and economic significance offasciolosis due to liver condemnation in indigenous adult cattle slaughtered atKombolcha industrial abattoir and to compare diagnostic efficiency of faecal andpostmortem examination. A 5-year database (2004-2009) from the abattoir was retrievedand analysed. A retrospective abattoir survey results showed a total of 24,874 cattle were slaughtered from August 2005 to Sep. 2009. During that period, 9843 livers were positive for fasciolosis and condemned. Based on the current local price of liver, an average annual monetary loss due to liver condemnation was about 1833USD. A retrospective abattoir survey revealed that the prevalence of fasciolosis was 39.6%. From the total number of cattle slaughtered (n=500) during study period, coproscopic and postmortem examination was performed for bovine fasciolosis. Of the 500 livers and faecal samples examined, 140 (28%) and 62 (12.4%) were positive for fasciolosis. 63.6% of total livers found to be positive for bovine fasciolosis were infected with F.hepatica where as F.giantica, mixed infection and immature or unidentified form of fasciola species recovered was 24.3%, 7.14% and 5%, respectively. These results indicate that F. hepatica was the most common liver fluke species that leads to high liver condemnation rates in cattle slaughtered, resulting into financial loss in the study area. There was moderateagreement between faecal examination and postmortem findings of liver lesion (k=0.53)but postmortem examination was considered a better diagnostic tool for fasciolosis in the study area. Losses due to liver condemnation at Kombolcha industrial abattoir, its economic implications should not be overlooked. Since fasciolosis constitute a major intestinal problem and liver condemnation in cattle, the grazing of cattle should be highly restricted to areas of lesser snail infected site. INTRODUCTION Fasciolosis is among important parasitic diseases in tropical and subtropical countries which limit productivity of ruminants in particular cattle. Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica are the two liver flukes commonly reported to cause fasciolosis in ruminants (Keyyu et al 2005). The presence of Fasciolosis due to F.hepatica and F.gigantica in Ethiopia has long been known and its prevalence and economic significance have been reported by several workers (Fufa et al 2009; Tadelle and Worku 2007; Yilma and Malone 1998; Daniel 1995 and Dagne 1994). In general the distribution of Fasciolosis is worldwide. However, the distribution of F.hapatica is limited to temperate areas and high lands of tropical and subtropical regions (Soulsby 1986). The definitive hosts for F. hepatica are most mammals, among which sheep and cattle are the most important once. The geographical distribution of trematodes species is depending on the distribution of suitable species of snails. The genus Lymnea in general and L. Truncatula in particular are the most common intermediate host for F. hepatica. This species of snail was reported to have a worldwide distribution (Urquhart et al 1996). F. gigantica is found in most continents, primarily in tropical regions (Dalton 1998). The economic losses due to fasciolosis are caused by mortality, morbidity, and reduced growth rate, condemnation of liver, increased susceptibility