Prevalence and Viability of Hydatidosis in Cattle Slaughtered at Sebeta Municipal Abattoir, Central Ethiopia

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of hydatid cysts in slaughtered cattle at Sebeta Municipal abattoir and assess associate risk factors. In this cross sectional study from November 2011 to March 2012, a total of 395 animals were inspected using post morteum examination. Out of animals examined, 97 (24.5%) cattle were harbored hydatid cysts. Prevalence of hydatidosis significantly different among animals origins (p=0.01), where animals originated near to Addis Ababa had high prevalence as compared to region far away from Addis Ababa. Age group above 10 years and poor body condition showed significantly high prevalence (p<0.05) than age group less than 10 years and good body condition scores. The study has shown that 16% fertile-viable cysts and the remaining were infertile. Hydatidosis was more prevalent near Addis Ababa (29.2%), where there is better living standard difference and the opportunity of frequent slaughtering at backyard in one or other reasons and poor managements of infected organs in the area might have contributed for the prevalence. Among organs examined, the highest proportion of fertile-viable cyst were observed in the heart 4 (40%) followed by lung 15 (17%), kidney 3(11.1%) and liver 2 (10.2%). The highest proportion of the nonfertile or sterile cyst observed in the lung and kidney. Calcified hydatid cyst was higher in spleen followed by liver, kidney and lung. The current results suggest that a region based thorough investigation is paramount important to facilitate disease control strategy in the country, which helps to reduce the economic loss and public health consequences of the hydatidosis.