Prevalence and Financial Significance of Bovine Hydatidosis in Bishofitu Elfora Export Abattoir, Oromia, Central Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study of bovine hydatidosis was carried out on local zebu cattle slaughtered at Bishoftu Elfora Export Abattoir from November 2023 to April 2023 to estimate prevalence, to characterize the cysts and to estimate financial loss caused by the disease. Both ante mortem and post mortem inspections procedures were carried out to obtain data about risk factors and to identify positive animals. Out of 400 systematical randomly selected cattle, 103 (25.75%) of them had hydatid cysts in one or more of their organs. Place of origin and age of animals has shown statistically significant (p<0.05) association within study population. Whereas, body condition scores of the cattle were not statistical significant (p>0.05). Among the positive animals, 43 (41.75%) of them harbored only in their lungs, 12 (11.65%) of them only in their livers and the rest 48 (46.6%) harbored within multiple organs. From 539 cysts obtained, 254 (47.12%), 239 (44.34%) and 46 (8.53) cysts were small sized, medium sized and large sized respectively. A total of 111 cysts were selected for cyst characterizations and result showed that 28 (25.23%) were calcified, 42 (37.84%) were sterile and 41 (36.94%) were fertile. Higher fertility rate was observed in cysts of lungs (37%) whereas, cysts from liver had higher calcification rate (55%). From 41 fertile cysts, 24 (58.54%) cysts were viable and the remaining 17 (41.46%) cysts were non-viable. The estimated financial loss as a result of bovine hydatidosis was 1,651,696.55 ETB. The result showed that the disease is highly prevalent and caused high financial loss in the abattoir. Hence it should be controlled and prevented as to decrease public health hazard, to improve livestock productivity and to reduce financial loss attributed by the disease.