Tanzania veterinary journal, 2013; 28 (2)
This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and financial losses of Bovine fasciolosis at
SAAFI and Sumbawanga municipal abattoirs. Primary data was collected for one month
(November/December 2012) through meat inspection. Secondary data was retrieved from the abattoir
records for the period of five years (January 2008 to December 2012). During the one month of
prospective study period, a total of 677 cattle were slaughtered at SAAFI abattoir and 45.4% of the
livers were condemned due to fasciolosis. At Sumbawanga municipal abattoir 594 cattle were
slaughtered, 47.1% of the livers were also condemned due to fasciolosis. The overall prevalence of
fasciolosis for five years at SAAFI abattoir was 26.5% (10 592 cattle slaughtered and 2 801 livers
were condemned due to fasciolosis) while that of Sumbawanga municipal abattoir was 16.4% (23 612
cattle slaughtered and 3 862 livers were condemned due to fasciolosis). Fasciola gigantica was found
to be the liver fluke species affecting cattle slaughtered in Rukwa region. The one month
(November/December) financial loss due to liver condemnation (Fasciola infected) was Tanzania
shilings (TZS) 5 894 400 (USD 3 497) and TZS 5 376 000 (USD 3 190) for SAAFI and Sumbawanga
municipal abattoirs, respectively. The public health implication on the quantity of infected livers
condemned and the losses incured by livestock and meat traders warrants for more extensive
epidemiological investigations to determine the magnitude of the problem in live animals and
institution of proper control strategies of fasciolosis in the study area
Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development