Post-mortem inspection The slaughtering of the large ruminants
was conducted by traditional methods with carcass dissection
conducted on a concrete floor using axes and knives.
Once slain, the carcass was placed in dorsal recumbency, the
hide dissected, major body cavities opened and visceral content
removed. Quantities of meat, bone, offal, blood and hide
of each animal were weighed using local available dial mechanic
scales (2, 15 and 100 kg capacity). The presence of an
embryo or foetus (i.e. pregnancy status) of each female animal
was recorded. Tissues and organs were examined by visual
inspection, palpation and incision for the presence of lesions.
In particular, the liver of each animal was carefully investigated
for the presence of lesions and organisms consistent with
acute or chronic fascioliasis due to liver fluke infestation by
Fasciola gigantica, plus the pathological condition of the hepatic
tissue was classified as displaying normal, mild, moderate
or severe lesions of fasciola hepatopathy