Abstract

The study was carried out in Kombolcha ELFORA Industrial Abattoir to assess the current status and economic importance of bovine hydatidosis. Hyatid cyst count, characterization and economic loss assessment were conducted out of a total of 535 cattles slaughtered in Kombolcha ELFORA Industrial Abattoir. 93 (17.4%) animals were found harboring hydatid cysts. Thorough meat inspection in the abattoir revealed that 101 visceral organs were found harboring one or more hydatid cyst. The infection of the lung, liver, spleen, heart and kidney were found to be 50.5, 40.6, 1.98, 4.95 and 1.98%, respectively. From the total of 276 hydatid cysts counted, 135 (49.6%), 47 (17%), 20 (7.24%) and 72 (26%) were found to be small, medium, large and calcified cysts, respectively and 178 (67.9%), 12 (4.3%) and 72 (26%) were sterile, fertile and calcified, respectively. The rate of cyst calcification was higher in the liver than in the lung while fertility rate was higher among the cysts of the lung. The annual financial losses from organ condemnation and carcass weight loss due to bovine hydatidosis at Kombolcha ELFORA Industrial Abattoir were estimated to be 288,473.60 Ethiopian Birr (ETB) ($1 = 17.00 ETB). Thus, echinococcosis/hydatidosis is considerably a prevalent disease in cattle, with serious public health concern reflections and causes substantial visible and invisible losses in cattle in the study area.

Key words: Bovine hydatidosis, economic loss, Kombolcha ELFORA, meat inspection, prevalence.