Effects of Fascioliasis on the Economic Losses of Beef Liver at Abu Simbel Abattoir, Aswan Governorate, Egypt

Abstract

Beef liver as human food is a good source of protein and provides many vitamins as B12, vitamin A, riboflavin and copper. Fascioliasis is an acquired infection occured by eating contaminated water plants and caused by the liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica). Therefore, the aim this of work was to determine i) the liver lesions of cattle in Abu Simbel Abattoir, Aswan Governorate, Egypt imported from Sudan; ii) the prevalence of bovine Fascioliasis and iii) estimate their economic losses as a result of liver lesions. The study was performed for a period of one year from 22 December 2018 to 21 December 2019. During the survey, 81452 male cattle were slaughtered and inspected. The total number of condemned livers was 7553 (9.3%). The pathological conditions causing liver condemnation were Fascioliasis (86.3%), cirrhosis (8.7%), abscesses (2.3%), calcified cyst (1.5%), hepatitis (0.6%), and Cysticercus bovis (0.6%). The total economic losses were 173554.21$ while with respect to Fascioliasis were 152718$. In conclusion, these results indicated that the bovine Fascioliasis was the main cause of liver condemnation in the present study causing highly economic losses.