A study was conducted at Sendafa-Beke municipal abattoir from November 2014 to April 2015. The objectives of the study were to estimate the prevalence of fasciolosis in cattle, to assess risk factors associated with Fasciola infection and to identify Fasciola species infecting the animals. The sensitivity and specificity of faecal sedimentation method to diagnose Fasciola infection as compared to the post-mortem findings of liver inspection was also determined. Out of 384 livers inspected during post-mortem examination, 134 (34.89%) were positive for fasciolosis and 83 (21.6%) were positive upon faecal examinations. Fasciola hepatica was found to be the most prevalent species (55.97%, N=75) followed by F. gigantica (17.91%, N=24), unidentified immature liver flukes (23; 17.16%, N= 23), and mixed infections (8.96%, N=12). From the potential risk factors assessed, only body condition scores were significantly associated with the prevalence of infections (P<0.05) where higher infections were detected in animals with poor body condition than in animals with medium and good body condition scores. Age and origin of the animals were not significantly associated. The sensitivity and specificity of the faecal sedimentation method as compared to post-mortem finding were 61.9% and 100%, respectively. In conclusion, Fasciola infection is highly prevalent in cattle in the study area and it is recommended that strategic control and prevention of the parasite should be implemented. Besides, coprological examination has limitations to diagnose fasciolosis, hence epidemiological information about the disease with suggestive clinical examination should be considered in negative results with coprological examination for fasciolosis.

Keywords: Abattoir, Cattle, Coprology, Fascioliasis, Prevalence, Post-mortem, Sendafa-Beke, Sensitivity, Specificity.