Aetiologies of Chronic Emaciation: Trematodiasis and Secondary/Concurrent Organ Compromise in Off-Take Cattle in Ibadan Metropolis

Aims: The primary aim of the investigation was to determine the trend and most significant cause of chronic emaciation and cachexia in off take cattle in Ibadan metropolis; and evaluate clinico- pathologic findings.

Study Design: The study was a prospective one. In this particular study, causative factors of chronic emaciation were examined. The purposive sampling technique was used for this study. Samples were collected from 100 chronically emaciated off take cattle of different breeds, sexes and ages, not less than 2 years old.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, between September, 2019 and December, 2019.

Methodology: The diagnostic protocol of complete physical examination; and comprehensive laboratory investigations such as parasitology, haematology, serum chemistry and urinalysis, etc., were followed as a minimum.

Results: The study revealed a trend of aetiologies of emaciation with trematodiasis due to Fasciola hepatica and Dicrocoelium dendriticum as primary causes. Secondary and concurrent organ dysfunctions were important findings. The haematologic parameters of packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb) concentration, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), neutrophil and platelet count were statistically significant (p<0.05) with differences between the mean values of emaciated cases and control subjects. The serum chemistry parameters of albumin, globulin, bilirubin, aspartate amino transferase (AST) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) were statistically significant (p<0.05) with differences between the mean values of emaciated cases and control subjects.

Conclusion: The study established trematodiasis with secondary or concurrent organ compromise as one of the important aetiologies of chronic emaciation and cachexia in cattle in Ibadan metropolis. The increasing prevalence of dicrocoeliasis as revealed in the study should be of epidemiological and clinical relevance to livestock health institutions and large animal practitioners in northern Nigeria where these animals are sourced.