A Survey Of Causes Of Carcass And Organ Condemnations Of Livestock Slaughtered In Three Abattoirs In South Sudan
Abstract
A survey was conducted in three abattoirs in South Sudan. The study was designed to
provide epidemiological and economic data that can be used for surveillance purposes
and importantly for disease control programmes in both animals and humans. The study
objectives were: 1) to estimate the prevalence of diseases and conditions in livestock
carcasses and organs condemned in abattoirs in South Sudan; 2) to establish the
geographical distribution of the diseases and conditions associated with livestock carcass
and organ condemnations in abattoirs in South Sudan; and 3) To estimate the financial
losses associated with livestock carcass and organ condemnations in South Sudan.
The study was conducted in three major abattoirs in three States of South Sudan, namely,
Central Equatoria State (Juba Main abattoir), Upper Nile State (Hai Saha abattoir) and
Western Bahr el Ghazal State (Lokoloko abattoir). The survey was conducted in two
phases. In the first phase, retrospective data were collected from the meat inspection
records kept at the three abattoirs during the period 2009-2011. In the second phase,
detailed data were collected prospectively for a period of four months in the three
abattoirs from January 2012 to April 2012. The quantity of organs and carcasses
condemned was estimated in kilograms for each livestock species. The prevailing market
prices of the organs and carcasses at the time of survey were obtained from the butchers
in the three towns of Juba, Malakal and Wau.
Carcass condemnations rates in the three species were low (0% - 0.5%) compared to
organs. Reasons for the few carcasses condemned in phases of the study included
Cysticercus bovis, suspected tuberculosis, jaundice, septicaemia and abnormal odour.
In Approximately a half (52%) of the 1,794 cattle organs condemned at Juba Main
abattoir during the period 2009-2011 were due to fascioliasis. Fascioliasis and contagious
caprine pleuropneumonia contributed to 37% and 20% of goat organs condemned during
the same period and to 37% and 32% of sheep organs condemned, respectively. At Hai
Saha abattoir, the leading causes of cattle organ condemnations were fascioliasis and
pneumonia contributing to 46% and 22% of the condemnations, respectively. At this
abattoir, cases of bovine cysticercosis were documented and accounted for 8%. The three
major causes of condemnations in goats at Hai Saha abattoir were necrotic lesions in the
livers (33%), contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (26%) and fascioliasis (26%), while in
sheep the leading cause of condemnations was liver necrosis (29%). Of the three survey
abattoirs, the Lokoloko abattoir in Wau County had the largest numbers of livestock
slaughtered (110,487 animals). At this abattoir suspected cases of bovine tuberculosis at a
prevalence of 8.2% contributed to approximately a quarter (24%) of the total cattle
organs condemned. Fascioliasis was the commonest cause of condemnations of goat and
sheep livers constituting 53% and 57% of the condemnations, respectively, at this
abattoir.
In the four-month prospective abattoir data collection, fascioliasis was the leading cause
of cattle liver condemnations at prevalence of 3.9% at Juba Main abattoir.
Condemnations of the liver in cattle accounted for (71%) of all total condemnations of
cattle carcasses and organs carried out at this abattoir. Contagious caprine
pleuropneumonia in goats and fascioliasis in sheep were also significant causes of
condemnations in the two species at a prevalence of 2.6% and 2.8%, respectively. At the
Hai Saha abattoir, fascioliasis occurred at high prevalence proportions in cattle (4.3%),
goats (4.1%) and in sheep (4.0%). Pneumonia and suspected cases of tuberculosis in
cattle occurred at relatively high prevalence of 11.4% and 10.5% at the Lokoloko
abattoir. At this abattoir, the prevalence of causes of goats and sheep organ
condemnations were relatively low with the highest prevalence recorded for hydatidosis
(1.8%) and fascioliasis (1.1%) in sheep, and fascioliasis (0.8%) and hydatidosis (0.7%) in
goats.
The estimated monetary loss incurred in the four-month period (January- April, 2012)
due to carcass and organ condemnations converted to an annual loss of South Sudanese
Pound 620,290.2 (US $ 206,763.4). The vast proportion (51.8%) of this loss was due to
condemnations of livers with fascioliasis.
In conclusion, this survey provided vital epidemiologic and economic data that can be
useful for the planning and implementation of sound disease control programmes. Such
diseases include the major ruminant plagues (e.g. CBPP and CCPP), liver flukes, and the
diseases of public health importance (e.g. bovine tuberculosis, cysticercosis and
hydatidosis).
Citation
Mabior, M. De-Awar Y.,2013.A Survey Of Causes Of Carcass And Organ Condemnations Of Livestock Slaughtered In Three Abattoirs In South Sudan,A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for Masters degree of University of Nairobi (Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics.Publisher
University of Nairobi