Bovine cysticercosis in Ethiopia: a review

Bovine cysticercosis is an infection of cattle caused by Cysticercus bovis, the larval stage of Taenia saginata. It is an infection of public health significance as eating of raw or undercooked beef results taeniasis in human population and an important cause of economic loss mainly due to condemnation, refrigeration and downgrading of infected carcasses. Bovine cysticercosis is prevalent in cattle population of various regions of Ethiopia in a range of 2.2% to 26.25%. The reported rates of prevalence may be an underestimate because employment of the latest diagnostic methods is uncommon and the routine meat inspection is the only method in use. Habit of eating raw beef dishes, low level of toilet use by human population, backyard slaughter, low availability of taenicides, free access of cattle to surface water, and proximity of wastewater are important causes for transmission of bovine cysticercosis to a herd of cattle and taeniasis in human population and such practices are not uncommon in Ethiopia. Competent meat inspection procedure supported by immunodiagnostics, chemotherapy and vaccination are the recommended approaches to prevent bovine cysticercosis and therefore such approaches along with the current status of bovine cysticercosis in Ethiopia are highlighted in the present review.