Liver condemnation due to bovine and buffalo fasciolosis in Antioquia province, Colombia

Abstract

Background: Fasciola hepatica affects cattle and buffaloes, causing decreased production and liver condemnation at the slaughterhouse level. Objective: To determine liver condemnation frequency, temporal distribution, and associated factors, as well as the spatial distribution and economic impact of F. hepatica infection, based on post mortem inspection in cattle and buffaloes processed between 2010 and 2019 in one of the main slaughterhouses in Colombia. Methods: An observational, descriptive, and cross37 sectional study was carried out, with a convenience non-probability sampling. The temporal distribution of the frequency of liver condemnations was analyzed, the Pearson ꭕ2 test was used to determine the association between the dependent variable (i.e. presence/absence of adult parasites of F. hepatica) and the frequency rates between months and years, and the monthly rainfall data was compared with the accumulated monthly frequency. The association between the dependent variable and the type of production (i.e. industrial-type bovine cattle—intended for milk production, commercial44 type bovine cattle —intended for meat production), weight, and sex (odds ratios, OR and confidence intervals, 95%CI) was explored. Descriptive maps of the municipalities that presented at least one positive case of F. hepatica in 2019 and of the weighted prevalences, both for bovines and buffaloes, were designed. Only losses due to liver condemnation between 2010 and 2019 were considered for the analysis of the economic impact. Results: A total of 1,947,233 animals were processed during the study period, with an overall frequency of fasciolosis of 3.1%. Industrial-type cattle presented a 7.4% higher risk of developing F. hepatica compared to commercial-type cattle (OR=0.074; 95%CI: 0.07-0.08). Likewise, male cattle presented 3.88 times more risk compared to females (OR=3.88; 95%CI: 3.49-4.33). Economic losses due to liver condemnation were estimated at US$1,129,660 for the study period. Conclusion: The frequency of condemnations in Colombia occurs throughout the year, although it increases in the rainy season. The economic losses, only estimated by liver condemnation due to fasciolosis, are important. However, it is necessary to explore such losses considering other productive indicators and in larger animal populations. Fasciola hepatica was reported for the first time in the country in buffaloes. This work demonstrates the importance of systematizing the information generated by animal slaughterhouses.