REVALENCE, PUBLIC AWARENESS AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF MAJOR ZOONOTIC PARASITOSIS IN CATTLE SLAUGHTERED AT SELECTED DISTRICTS, GAMO ZONE, SOUTH ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Bovine parasitic zoonoses have emerged from time to time and pose a public health threat in developing countries where eating of raw meat and improper disposal of condemned carcass/organ is practiced. A cross-sectional study design was conducted to estimate the prevalence, public awareness and economic impact of major zoonotic parasitosis in selected districts of Gamo Zone from November 2023 to April 2024. Arba Minch, Chano Mille and Geresse slaughter houses were purposively selected from the respective districts based on their routine slaughtering service and supplied meat to the nearby community and the study cattle were selected by a systematic random sampling technique. A questionnaire survey, a detailed ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections and laboratory examinations were applied in the study area. From 138 of interviewed individuals 94(68.1%) had contract major zoonotic parasitosis infection at list once in their life time and 96.6% had no information about zoonotic parasitosis transmitted to human by contact with dogs. The overall prevalence in the study area was found to be 119(20.66%) and out of 576 animals inspected 60(10.42%) bovine hydatidiosis, 53(9.20%) bovine fasciolosis and 6(1.04%) bovine cysticercosis were identified respectively. Among associated risk factors, origin (χ2= 28.998; p= 0.000), age (χ2= 13.362; p= 0.000) and BCS (χ2= 102.31; p= 0.000) showed strong association with prevalence of major zoonotic parasitosis in animals. In contrast, the presence of the diseases was found to be insignificantly associated with the district, breed and sex groups (P > 0.05) of animals. From 576 cattle subjected to both fecal and liver examination, 53 had flukes in their livers but only 38 showed Fasciola eggs in their feces. Out of 60 hydatid cysts encountered, 12 calcified, 20 sterile and 28 fertile (18(30%) viable and 10(16.66%) non-viable) cysts were identified. The total annual direct financial loss due to organ condemnation was calculated to be 784,887.84 ETB. An inventoried 12 pharmaceutical shops revealed that a total of 27,480 anti-helmintic drug doses were sold for a total of 397,600 ETB. The study concluded that bovine zoonotic parasitosis were prevalent and the major public health problems in the study areas. Thus, Awareness creation should be made for the community on risky practices and strict routine meat inspection of slaughtered animals should be carried out.