Prevalencia de hígados decomisados y pérdidas económicas por Fasciola sp. en Huambo, Angola

Fascioliasis, caused by Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica, is a parasitosis of high prevalence in extensive livestock raising in Huambo province, Angola. The aim of this work was to evaluate the prevalence of condemned livers by these trematodes and the associated economic losses. The retrospective data of the sanitary inspections carried out by the Official Veterinary Service were obtained in two slaughterhouses in the province in the period 2008-2011. During this period, 16739 bovines were slaughtered, and 2809 livers of them were condemned. The general prevalence (P) in the period was 16.78 %, significantly different between the years (p<0.001), with an increasing linear-trend (p<0.001) over the period from 12.71 % in 2008 to 25.19% in 2011 (p<0.001). The total of condemned livers ascended to 5869.7 kg, equivalent to 5 869 700 kwanzas (58 697.00 USD). The high prevalence of fascioliasis and its economic impact are shown in livestock in Huambo, and the necessity to start a control program against this important zoonoses is pointed out.