Research Communication

A retrospective study of the prevalence of bovine fasciolosis at major abattoirs in Botswana

M. Ernest Mochankana, Ian D. Robertson
Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research | Vol 83, No 1 | a1015 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ojvr.v83i1.1015 | © 2016 M. Ernest Mochankana, Ian D. Robertson | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 17 July 2015 | Published: 13 June 2016

About the author(s)

M. Ernest Mochankana, Department of Animal Science, Botswana College of Agriculture, Botswana
Ian D. Robertson, College of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Australia

Abstract

A retrospective study covering a period of ten years (2001–2010) was conducted using postmortem meat inspection records of the Department of Veterinary Services in Gaborone to determine the prevalence of bovine fasciolosis in Botswana. Meat inspection records of monthly and annual returns from the two main export abattoirs in the country were examined, as well as the data collected on the total number of cattle slaughtered and the number of livers condemned due to Fasciola gigantica infection. Only 1250 of the approximately 1.4 million cattle slaughtered were infected with F. gigantica (0.09%, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.0% – 0.3%). No distinct seasonal pattern was observed in condemnation rates of livers. However, the pattern of distribution of fasciolosis was higher (but not significant) in cattle that originated from areas with high rainfall and more permanent water bodies than those from relatively low rainfall areas with a transitory water system. It is recommended that a longitudinal survey should be carried out at the abattoirs and farms to determine the prevalence of the disease in cattle of different ages, sex and breed as well as the place of origin in the country. The present study indicated that the prevalence of fasciolosis in cattle is low and the disease is therefore of less significance in Botswana than other African countries for which information is available.

Keywords: Botswana; cattle; Fasciola gigantica; liver; prevalence


Keywords

Botswana; cattle; Fasciola gigantica; liver; prevalence

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