Economic importance of bovine fascioliasis in Nigeria.

An attempt was made to determine the annual economic losses due to bovine fascioliasis in Nigeria. The estimates were based on an average annual disease incidence of 2.5%, an assumed mortality rate of 1%, a total liver condemnation rate of 7%, a cattle population of 10 million and an annual slaughter rate of 10%. When the annual cost of treating and controlling fascioliasis amounting to N30,000 was added to other costs, total annual loss due to fascioliasis was estimated at some N5 million. The importance of fascioliasis as a major source of production loss in the animal industry in Nigeria is discussed.