International Journal of Agricultural Science Research Vol. 4(4), pp. 078-081, April 2015 ISSN 2327-3321 ©2015 Academe Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Fasciolosis: Abattoir prevalence and severity of liver lesions in sheep slaughtered at Debre-Birhan Municipal Abattoir, North East Ethiopia

Biniam Tsegaye* and Bewket Gebeyehu

Haramaya University, College of Veterinary Medicine, P.O.Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: bintse2@gmail.com. Tel: +251-912-035571, +251-25-5-530334.

Accepted 19 March, 2015

Abstract

A cross sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence and severity of liver lesions in sheep slaughtered at Debre-Birhan Municipal Abattoir, North East Ethiopia. From the total of 384 sheep examined during post mortem examination, 173 (45.05%) were found to be infected with fasciola. Fasciola hepatica was found to be the most prevalent (33.33%) liver flukes species affecting sheep slaughtered in the study area followed by Fasciola gigantica (18.49%) and mixed species (7.29%). A statistically significant association (p< 0.05) was found between the age groups and among the different liver lesions; but there was no statistical significant variation (p >0.05) between sexes and the study months. Finally, strategic application of anthelmintics at appropriate time of the year is recommended to decrease the prevalence in the study areas.

Key words: Abattoir prevalence, ovine fasciolosis, liver lesions, Debre-Birhan.