Prevalence, Types and Associated Factors of Liver Lesions in Slaughtered Cattle at The Kumasi Abattoir, Kumasi, Ghana

Abstract

Studies on hepatic pathology in slaughtered animals are few in Ghana. The knowledge of such will aid effective control of some 
important zoonoses of interest. A cross-sectional abattoir study was conducted from September 2019 to February 2020 on cattle 
slaughtered at the Kumasi Abattoir to determine major liver pathologies, the types and associated risk factors. Post-mortem 
inspection procedures were followed throughout the study and liver pathologies observed were recorded. A total of 2712 
slaughtered cattle were examined at post-mortem. Out of 2712 slaughtered cattle liver examined, 140 livers were pathologic 
giving a prevalence rate of 5.16% with 2.06% and 3.10% prevalence rate in the rainy and dry seasons respectively. The major 
liver pathologies observed in cattle were abscess (47.02%), telangiectasis (20.54%), fascioliasis (18.92%), fibrosis (4.86%), 
cirrhosis (2.162%), multiple cysts (1.62%), traumatic peritonitis (1.62%), congestion (1.08%), necrosis (1.08%), cysticercosis 
(0.54%) and adhesion of spleen to liver (0.5%). Liver lesions were more in bulls (91.4%) as well as in the younger cattle (< 2 
years old) (70.71%). The Zebu cattle recorded more liver lesions (53.75%) and cattle with moderate body condition score 
recorded more liver lesions (88.72%). Seasonally, more (60%) of the liver lesions were recorded in the dry season. Risk factors 
identified include season and age (p<0.05) whilst, sex, body condition score and breed of cattle had no statistical significance 
(p˃0.05). To this end, there should be an enhanced routine veterinary surveillance and efficient diagnosis of possible etiological 
factors contributing to pathologies of the liver especially those zoonotic diseases. Further studies are on histological and microbial 
analysis of liver lesions to help make a definitive diagnosis and further management plans.