Pathological Changes of Fasciola Species Infection in Cattle Slaughtered in Ilorin Abattoir Kwara State, Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Fasciolosis is a parasitic disease of ruminants, and it is associated with liver damage, decreased meat and milk production, growth retardation, and even death. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine the hepatic lesions associated with fasciolosis and to document the histopathological findings seen in the livers of cattle naturally infected with Fasciola species in Kwara State, Nigeria. METHODS: Livers from 386 cattle were sampled at the place of slaughter for this study. Livers with lesions were subjected to gross and histopathological examinations. The univariate analysis (Chi-square) test was used to determine the association between each risk factor and the presence or absence of Fasciola species in livers. RESULTS: Of the 386 livers of cattle sampled, 90 had pathological lesions representing 23.31% (95% CI = 19.30 – 27.73). Among the pathologic livers, hepatic enlargement was recorded as the most prevalent lesion (37.78%), while hepatic hemorrhage was the least prevalent lesion (6.67%). Fasciola species was detected more in congested livers (14.81%), followed by fibrotic livers (10.00%). There were no Fasciola species in other types of liver lesions. The difference in the prevalence of Fasciola species among types of liver lesions was statistically significant (P 0.01; Chi-square (χ²) value = 49.10; degree of freedom (df) = 5). CONCLUSIONS: Fasciolosis is associated with hepatic congestion, and severe histopathologic lesions are seen in the livers of slaughtered cattle naturally infected with Fasciola species in Kwara State, Nigeria.