Increase of Bovine Fascioliasis in Puerto Rico as Determined by Slaughterhouse Surveys

Abstract

Surveys conducted at all the existing slaughterhouses in Puerto Rico during the period of 1973-76 showed that the prevalence of Fasciola hepatica in cattle steadily increased from 23.83% in 1973 to 31.76% in 1976. This increase was found to be even more dramatic when compared to the 1948-49 survey, where only 7.55% of the bovine livers were found to be infected. For the period of 1973-76, 1.76 million pounds of bovine livers were condemned. This represents a direct loss of over 1.584 million dollars for the Puerto Rican cattlemen in condemned livers alone, and multiple indirect losses for the local economy.