Economic losses and prevalence of Fasciola hepatica in cattle slaughtered in two cuban provinces

Pérdidas económicas y prevalencia de Fasciola hepaticaen bovinos sacrificados en dos provincias cubanas

Objective. To determine the economic losses resulting from condemnation of affected livers and the presence of Fasciola hepatica in slaughtered cattle in the provinces of Camagüey and Holguín, Cuba. Materials and Methods. This study was based on the results from an anatomo-pathological examination performed at Felipe Fuentes and César Escalante slaughterhouses between January 2012 and December 2018. The losses, which totaled $ 80 312 USD (Holguín) and $ 327 152 USD (Camagüey), were estimated from the number of slaughtered and affected animals throughout the period. Analyses for the comparisons of proportions were made to animals affected by F.hepatica, whereas the economic losses due to liver condemnation were analyzed by Chi-square to determine the existence of significant differences among the proportions. Analysis of means (ANOM) was made to determine the significantly different proportions within the general average. Results. Significant differences (p<0.001) were observed in animals from different slaughterhouses in 11 months, excluding July. Meanwhile, the total losses due to condemnation of affected livers underwent significant differences (p<0.001) in all the months of the evaluation period. Conclusions. The highest values of economic losses and prevalence due to condemnation of livers affected by F.hepatica were observed in the province of Camagüey, which may have been linked to varying climatic conditions. Hence, evaluation of intermediary host dynamics and the larval stages of the trematode in the two provinces studied were recommended.