Cysticercosis in cattle and its public health implications in Mekelle City and surrounding areas, Ethiopia

Abstract

To detect bovine cysticercosis, postmortem examination was done on 1023 cattle coming to Mekelle abattoir from highland and lowland areas of Mekelle and its surroundings. Routine examination of masseter, triceps and diaphragmatic muscles, heart, liver, lung and the tongue was made. True viability of the cyst was ascertained by keeping the cysts in 5% sodium taurocholate overnight and evagination of scolex indicated cyst’s viability while the dead ones remained intact. Data from Governmental and nongovernmental health centers was collected to find the cases of human taeniaisis in the study areas. Seventy four cattle were positive for cysticercosis giving a percent positivity of 7.23%. Cysticercus bovis were found at different sites, viz. masseter muscles, triceps muscles, heart, liver, tongue and lungs, but the livers of 69(6.74%) of 1023 cattle were found positive for one or more cysts and this positivity was higher than that of the other sites. Out of the cysts from 10 positive carcasses tested for viability, seven animals were having viable infection. Analysis of data from Governmental and non-governmental health centers on7171human patients’ positive for various parasitic infections revealed Taenia saginata in 23. Presence of taenaisis/cysticercosis in man and animals highlights the public health significance of this infection.

Key words: Cysticercosis, Cysticercus bovis, occurrence, taeniasis, Taenia saginata