African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12497

Full Length Research Paper

Liver histopathology in bovine Fascioliasis

Okoye, I. C.*
  • Okoye, I. C.*
  • Applied Parasitology and Biomedical Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
  • Google Scholar
Egbu, F. M. I.
  • Egbu, F. M. I.
  • Applied Parasitology and Biomedical Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
  • Google Scholar
Ubachukwu, P. O
  • Ubachukwu, P. O
  • Applied Parasitology and Biomedical Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
  • Google Scholar
Obiezue, Nduka R.
  • Obiezue, Nduka R.
  • Applied Parasitology and Biomedical Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
  • Google Scholar


  •  Received: 24 February 2014
  •  Accepted: 13 August 2015
  •  Published: 19 August 2015

Abstract

The livers of slaughtered cattle were examined by visualization, palpation and incision. Macroscopically, some of the infected livers appeared to be slightly swollen with pale color at the round edges, while some appeared greatly swollen, with a few small irregular whitish areas indicating fibrosis over the parietal surface. In some cases, the capsule was thick and rough with whitish or reddish discoloration and parenchyma was hard due to fibrous tissue. Fibrosis of the bile ducts with numerous small and large patches scattered over the parietal surface and the pipe stem appearance of the liver were noticed. It could be concluded that the histopathological changes in the livers of cattle infected with Fasciola gigantica reflected tissue damage, which can amount to significant economic losses in animals and great health problems in man. Serious care and attention are required of both the veterinary workers and the public health planners in the state to ensure that seriously damaged livers are not passed on for human consumption despite their deranged nutritional values and health risk problems. The grazing of cattle should be highly restricted to areas of lesser snail infected site to reduce the rate of animal infection and the consequent economic losses.

 

Key words: Fascioliasis, Fasciola gigantica, histopathology, cirrhosis.