A Pathological Study of Lesions in Sheep Liver in Nasr Aldeen Slaughterhouse Khartoum-North

Abstract

A retrospective study and active slaughterhouse survey were conducted in Nasr Aldeen Slaughterhouse at Alhaj Yousif - Almygoma Khartoum - North during October 2016 to March 2017. The objectives of the present study were to provide data were collected from the records of slaughter house on the lesions of ovine livers, their monthly prevalence rates and to describe lesions grossly and microscopically. Samples of liver were collected during meat inspection with irrespective of age and breed. Samples of liver were collected. Gross study was performed during collection of samples from the slaughterhouses primarily and then during trimming of the samples for histopathology. Livers exhibiting gross alterations were cleaned with normal neutral saline and the changes were recorded. The lesion containing tissue samples were collected and preserved in 10% neutral formalin solution for histopathological study. The tissue pieces were washed in running tap water, dehydrated in ascending grades of alcohol, cleared in benzene and embedded in paraffin wax (60-62°C melting point). Sections of 4-5 micron thickness were cut and stained with haematoxylin and eosin as per the standard procedure. The lesions were frequent and varied with different percentages. The results of this research showed that the percentage of ovine hepatic lesions of condemned livers during the six months to total number of slaughtered animals was 0.69 %. The total number of slaughtered sheep was 41,052million. The highest percentage of lesions was calcification and abscesses 0.2% and due to parasites such as S. hepatica, fasciola and hydatid 0.1%.The percentage of monthly ovine liver condemnation due to various causes during the study period was in October 0.64%, November 0.83%, December 0.77%, January 0.83%, February 0.5% and March 0.54%. The percentage of various causes of liver condemnation was as follows: Fasciola 0.03%, S. hepatica 0.02%, cysticercosis 0.05%, abscess 0.2%, necrosis 0.06%, adhesions 0.002%, fibrosis 0.02%, Calcification 0.2%, Fatty change 0.02% 0.007% stones 0.007% Degeneration 0.002% jaundice 0.002% and other changes in colour 0.01%. Histopathological examination of livers revealed a number of conditions or lesions such as chronic congestion, haemorrhage, hepatitis, fibrosis, fatty degeneration, calicification and centrilobular necrosis. In conclusion, this study identified the major pathological causes of livers condemnation in Nasreldin Slaughterhouse in Khartoum – North. Also the study clearly suggests that most of the diagnosed and reported parasites were associated with variable degrees of pathological lesions.