"Of the five cattle slaughtered in the premises of the City Mayors Office on Monday, the team found that one suffered from liver fluke disease, though it was not a serious case," said veterinarian Ana Mustiana while examining sacrificial animals meat on Monday.
She pointed out that the liver worm disease was detected when the team began examining the cut-off part of the liver of an animal and found two liver flukes in the liver.
To check if there were any other infections, the team conducted intensive examinations by slicing parts of the liver.
"The part of the liver which is infected usually hardens and discolors. As long as the liver does not change color, it is still consumable," she informed.
She recalled that officials invariably come across such cases every year during the Eid al-Adha day of sacrifice but the percentage remained small. One of the factors that cause the infection is the animals forage.
Possibly, there could still be some worm eggs in the forage which an animal consumes while it is still wet. "A good feed meant for livestock should be dry," she counseled.
Ana Mustiana noted that the cows pass through a physical examination before being slaughtered. Five cows were slaughtered, all of which were healthy with no indications of eye sickness, flu or other any other affliction.
"However, it does not 100 percent guarantee that the internal organs of the animals are also healthy," she stated.
For that reason, internal organs must be examined, too. These include liver, lungs and spleen.
On an average, the lungs and the spleen are not found with any problem. However, if a lung is found as having turned black, it means there is some disease. Also, when a spleen is found enlarged, it means that it is infected with anthrax.
"However, so far, the team has not found any other cases except those of liver fluke disease," she observed.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
