THE PREVALENCE AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF ZOONOTIC BOVINE METACESTODES OF CATTLE SLAUGHTERED IN SELECTED TOWNS’ MUNICIPAL ABATTOIRS IN WEST WOLLEGA ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2019 to March 2020 in cattle slaughtered at the three selected abattoir/slaughter houses in West Wollega Zone with the objective of estimating the prevalence, economic and public health importance and assessing the awareness of community about zoonotic bovine metacestodes. Routine meat inspection, viability and fertile test were conducted as well as financial loss estimations and questionnaire surveys were carried out. A total of 384 cattle carcasses were inspected of which 6.2 % and 14.3 % were infected with Cysticercus bovis and Hydatid cysts, respectively. In case of Cystcercus bovis there was a significant difference in body condition (p < 0.05), but not in other factors of the study such as age and sex (p>0.05). In case of Hydatid cysts, there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) for the body condition and age, but there was no significant difference in sex (p>0.05). Out of the 100 interviewed respondents, 47% had contracted tapeworm infection in their life time. The majority of the respondents consume raw meat as a result of traditional or cultural practices. The logistic regression analysis of the risk factors showed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in the exposure of teniasis with regard to age, educational level, and habit of raw meat consumption, religion and sex. Several potential risky practices have been underlined among the respondent community interviewed in this study, notably practices related to dog management and the habits of consuming raw meat. In the current study, a total annual estimated loss of 306,945.157 ETB financial losses was estimated from these zoonotic bovine metacestodes and a total of 69,700 ETB from treatment costs. It was concluded that these zoonotic bovine metacestodes deserve due attention to safeguard public health, and that further studies are needed on, epidemiology genotyping and public health importance of Echinococcus granulosus in the study area.