Hydatidosis: Prevalence and Economic Significance in Cattle Slaughtered at Diredawa Municipal Abattoir, Ethiopia.

Mebrahtu Gebreyohannes1* Mesele wondie2

University of Gondar,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,Department of veterinary Pharmacy and Biomedical Science

Corresponding e-mail address; mebvet2002@gmail.com

Abstract :

The study was conducted from November, 2011 to March, 2012 at Dire Dawa municipal abattoir with the objective of determining the prevalence of bovine hydatidosis and to estimate the economic loss attributed to hydatid disease as the result of organ condemnation. A total of 432 animals were examined after slaughter for the presence of hydatid cyst in organs particularly, lung, liver, spleen, kidney and heart, using the standard routine meat inspection procedure. Of the 432 examined animals 139 (32.18%) were found to harbor hydatid cysts. The problem is more prevalent in older and female animals (P<0.05). However, no statistically significance variation was found between body condition and origin of animals (P> 0.05). The total number of organs affected by one or more hydatid cyst(s) was found to be 184 out of which lungs account for 91(49.5%), liver 84(45.7%), spleen 4(2.17), kidney 4(2.17) and heart 1 (0.54%). Of the total of 757 hydatid cysts recovered and examined, 215 (28.4%), 383 (50.6%) and 159 (21%) cysts were fertile, sterile and calcified respectively. Moreover, from the total fertile cysts 34.9% confirmed to be viable cysts. The annual financial loss at Dire Dawa municipal abattoir was estimated to be about Ethiopian birr 362,617.39(US Dollar 20,720.99). From the result obtained in this study, it can be concluded that hydatidosis is one of the most economically important cattle disease in the area warranting serious attention. Therefore, appropriate control and prevention measures need to be taken in order to minimize the economic loss associated with the problem and to prevent the zoonotic risk to the public health. Key words: Abattoir, Cattle, Dire Dawa, Economic significance, Hydatidosis, Prevalence.