Assessment of the Economic Impact and Prevalence of Ovine Fasciolosis in Menz Lalo Midir District, Northeast Ethiopia

Survey of economic loss and the prevalence of Fasciolosis in ovine species were conducted in Menz Lalo Midir district, Amhara National Regional State, during the period of September 2010 to June 2011. The objectives of this study were assessing the financial loss, determining prevalence. The total of number of study animals were 810 sheep from eight Kebeles (Tamawenze, Seklaye, Tayate, Saga, Wegere, Kilerbo, Toll, and Angetla) of Menz Lalo Midir district selected on lottery system. Prevalence was determined by fecal sample examinations. Gross lesions were studied by postmortem examination where as economic losses were determined after interview and market assessment. From fecal examination, the overall prevalence of ovine fasciolosis was found 70.20%. The prevalence in male animals was found 50.6% and in females it was 19.6%. But there exists no statistical significance between sex groups as the P value is less than 0.05. During the study period 1,692.00 Ethiopian birr was lost due to condemnation of liver from 189 animals accounting 74.6 % with 12.00 birr price of a liver. Clinically, observed signs were emaciation, weakness, bottle jaw and rough wool. Gross pathological lesions found were cirrhosis, fibrosis, and circumscribed pus accumulation, blunt edges of liver, bile duct hyperplasia and adult fasciola parasites on section of the liver. In conclusion, the results of the current study suggested that ovine fasciolosis was found to be one of the major disease entities in sheep in Menz Lalo Midir district.


2003
).The two species of most commonly implicated, as the etiological agent of fasciolosis are Fasciola Liver is an important organ for all animals to hepatica and Fasciola gigantica .Fasciola hepatica carryout different activities and function for animals has a worldwide distribution but predominant in and a source of protein and valuable commodity for temperate zones, while Fasciola gigantica is also poor communities.Post mortem inspections, screening found in most continents primarily in tropical (FAO, and sorting livers is important to separate the normal 2009; Staurt, 1997; ).The adult flukes are found in the liver from abnormal (Assefa, 2005).In Ethiopia, many bile ducts and the immature flukes in the liver studies have been under taken to identify the major parenchyma.Fasciola gigantica (giant liver flukes) disease condition encountered during ante mortem are similar shape to Fasciola hepatica but larger with and postmortem examination.The study conduct by less clearly defined shoulders.It causes economic loss (Mezgebu, 2003) at Nazareth and Gondar abattoirs in sheep and cattle of Africa mainly through liver respectively revealed that liver where highly rejected condemnation.organ by postmortem inspections mainly due to Ovine fasciolosis in Ethiopia is very frequent fasciolosis.and causes a significant economic loss either in Fasciolosis is an economically important disease production loss or decrease productivity and loss of of domestic livestock mainly in sheep and cattle body condition (Rahmeto et al., 2010;Abunna et al., (Abebe, 1995).The disease is caused by trematodes of 2010; Jibat, 2006;Daniel, 1995).However, this genus fasciola.Commonly refereed as liver flukes important disease was usually overlooked addressed (Lemma et al. 1985;Jones et al. 1997; Bowman, and assessed all over the country.
The study was therefore aimed to assess the the previously identified animals and their livers were carefully supervised and examined.The fluke economic losses due to Ovine fasciolosis, determine the current prevalence rate and associated risk factors recovery and count was conducted following the in Menz Lalo Midir district.
approach of Hammond and Sewell (1974).The gall bladder was removed and washed to screen out mature flukes.The liver was cut into slices of about 1 cm thick Ethical approval: The study was approved by and put in a metal trough of warm water to allow Institutional Animal Ethics Committee on 25th August, mature flukes lodged out which were in smaller bile 2010.
ducts and then the heads of the flukes were counted.Identification of the species involved was carried out Descriptions of the study area: The study was using the size parameters described by Soulsby conducted from September 2010 to June 2011 in (1982).During the postmortem inspection, the liver Amhara National Region State, North Shoa Zone, was thoroughly inspected by visualization, palpation Menz Lalo Midir District.Menz is located at 276 km 0 and incision for the identification and exposing of northeast of Addis Ababa.It is found at 10 09' latitude 0 pathological lesion and parasites.Using this procedure north, 39 33' longitudes east with elevations of 2,562 a total of 189 liver was inspected according to the m.a.s.l.The mean annual rain fall in the area is 600 guide line on meat inspection for developing countries mm.The monthly mean maximum temperature range

Study design and sampling methods: A cross-
Fecal examination: From a total of 621 fresh fecal sectional study design was used to address the samples 436 (70.20%) were positive for fasciola eggs.objectives of the study.The sample size required for Of 436 positive animals 314 were male and 122 were the study was determined by using the formula given female.Therefore, the prevalence with respect to sex by Thrusfield (2005) by a simple random sampling has indicated that it was serious in male animals than technique.Accordingly, a total of 810 sheep comprising females (50.6% and 19.6%) respectively.621 clinicophysically examined and 189 were examined after slaughter.Fecal samples were collected directly three grams of feces were crushed using pestle and mortar; 40ml of water was added and then we let to Postmortem examination: A total of 189 sheep sediment.The supernatant was discarded and the slaughtered in the local slaughter house were sediment part was put on the slid and observed under a thoroughly examined.Of these, 141 (74.60%) livers microscope of 10x magnification power and identified were condemned due to sever pathological lesions.the egg of fasciola from other nematodes and trematodes Some of the pathological lesions observed include egg using identifying keys (Soulsby, 1982).cirrhosis, pus formation and calcification with gritting sound on cut, swelling of the liver and loss of its Postmortem examination: During meat inspection,

Results
normal sharp edges, cholangitis and swelling of examination discovered a higher prevalence of ovine associated lymph nodes.We have also observed adult fasciolosis (74.60%).Much lower prevalence rate of parasites in the bile duct.Among the adult fasciola 13.2% was recorded in the middle Awash River Basin parasites identified it was mainly the fasciola hepatica by Ahmed et al. (2007).This difference might be that predominates the specimen.
attributed to the favorable ecological factors for the snail intermediate host and there by the parasite.This  (Argaw, 1998).

Jan. Total
With regard to sex of animas, male 50.6% at a national or regional level is, however, limiteed by From inspected 189 livers in the local slaughter lack of accurate estimates of the diseases prevelence, houses, 141 livers were condemned due to various complexity in disaggregating and quantifying the pathological finding specially fasciolosis.This has direct and indirect effects of the disease and lack of a shown that from 141 condemned livers the loss in birr common methodology for assessing the economic is about 1, 692.00 Eth.Birr because at the time of this loss.The annual loss due to endoparasitism includind study a normal liver was locally cost 12.00 Eth Birr.fasciolosis in Ethiopia was estimated at 700 million This finding implied that the loss even from the edible Birr (Ngategize et al., 1993;Yimam, 2003).Decreased offal liver alone due to fasciolosis accounts a productivity alone due to ovine fasciolosis was tremendous loss if we have gone through for farther estimated at 200 million birr by the year 2010.study on the market.The indirect loss due fasciolosis is farther incurred due to reduced productivity, reduced growth and expenses for the treatment of infected Authors are pleased to thank the technical staffs animals.
of Menz Lalo Midir District Veterinary Laboratory for their unreserved help in facilitating the laboratory works during this research.Fasciolosis is a prevailing ruminant health predicament and causes substantial economic losses to the livestock commerce in Ethiopia.The prevalence Authors declare that they have no conflict of indicated by fecal examination in the present study interest.(70.20%) was higher than the 51%, 49% and 49% recorded for Debre Zeit, Holeta and Dawa-Cheffa by Micheal (2003) Yilma (1985) and Molalegne et al.
(2009).from 15 c to 24 c.Likewise the monthly minimum 0 0 temperature varies from 10 c to 14 c (Agricultural Economic loss assessment: The economic loss Development Offices of Menz Lalo Midir District, associated with liver condemnation was assessed 2011; CSA, 2008).Most of the study kebeles were using short communication and interview with the water lodged, swampy and marshy.local people of sheep owners and local slaughter houses.Study Population: Local breeds of 621 Menz sheep managed under extensive farming system in Menz Data Analysis: Daily data were recorded in a spread Lalo Midir district of eight selected kebeles (peasant sheet and it was analyzed using simple descriptive data associations) and 189 sheep slaughtered in Mehal analysis (SPSS version 17.0).Meda local abattoir were the study animals.

Table-1.Prevalence of ovine fasciolosis obtained from the rectum of the animals using disposable from fecal examinations in Menz sheep. plastic
gloves and placed in plastic bags that were

Table - 2 . Number of sheep slaughtered, positive
From the total of 120 The postmortem of examination of animals people interviewed about the major cause of the liver depicted that 141 livers were found infected and condemnation in the study area; it was indicated that condemned.This accounts loss of around 1692 110 (91.67%) replied it was fasciolosis (locally called Ethiopian birr.Correspondingly, fasciola infection has "embuk").They added that when they slaughter sheep produced loss 106,400 Ethiopian birr (8312.5 USD) for holidays and other ceremonies they were able to detect parasites, swellings with pus found per annum at Hawassa reported by Rahmeto et al. accumulated inside and swollen liver with hard (2010), an average loss of 4000 USD per annum at Soddo reported by Abunna et al. (2010), average consistency.Three interviews were made with the local slaughter house attendants, a veterinary clinician 57,960 Ethiopian Birr (4,674.2USD) per annum at and a veterinarian; they all agreed that the most Adwa Bekele et al. (2010) and 270,211.88Ethiopian important factor for the loss of liver is fasciolosis.Birr or equivalent to 27, 572.64 USD per annum at They emphasized that among the most important Mekelle reported by Berhe et al. (2009) in cattle.endoparasites of small ruminants in the area; they were Estimation of economic losse due to fasciolosis trematodes mainly of fasciolosis.