Prevalence, Public Health and Financial Importance of Bovine Cysticercosis in Cattle Slaughtered at Debre Zeit Municipal Abattior, Ethiopia

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2010 to March 2011 with the objective of determining the prevalence of bovine cysticercosis in cattle sloughtered at Debre Zeit municipal abattior, to estimate T.saginata taeniasis and the cost of treatment in Debre zeit town. Active abattoir survey, questioner survey and inventory of pharmacutical shops were periformed to accomplish the study. Out of the 700 cattle sloughtered and examined  at Debre Zeit municipal abbatoir,38 cattle(5.43%)were  infected with T.saginata metacestodes. The anatomical distribution of cysticercai was observed and their relative infestation rates were recorded. The highest proportion of the cyst was observed in shoulder(2.86%) followed by heart(1.14%), toung(0.86%)and masseter muscle(0.14%).of the total of 126 cysts collected during the study period,64 cysts were found to be alive while the rest were degenerative cysts. In all the positive animals, no heavy infestation was observed. There was no significant difference found for bovine cysticercosis in origin but breed and age showed significant difference .Of the total 200 interviwed respondents 69.5%(139/200) responded that they had contracted T.saginata infection, of which93% and7% reported using modern and traditional drugs,respectively.An inventory of pharmaceutical shops revealed a total of29,272 adult taeniacidal drug doses were sold for atotal  worth of 114,293 ETB. Niclosamide and mebendazole were the most frequently sold drugs for the treatment of taeniasis while albendazole was the list sold drug. The findings of this study including prevalence of C. bovis, questioner survey of taeniasis prevalence and the pharmaceutical shops inventory indicated the importance of cysticercosis and taeniasis in both public health and economic aspects. Therefore, attention should be given to public awereness and environmental hygiene to safeguards the public health and further promotes beef industry in the country.

Keywords: Bovine cysticercosis and Abattior