Abstract
Zoonotic parasitic infections such as echinococcosis affect cattle, sheep and goats by lowering quality of meat and hides as well as decreasing milk production. The burden of such diseases among humans is usually underestimated as they are difficult to diagnose. We used abattoir data to estimate the prevalence of zoonotic parasitic infections in animals. Data from 2005-2018 was used from the registry of an abattoir in Northwest Ethiopia. Frequencies, proportions and trends over time were analyzed. Meat inspection was conducted by visualization, palpation and incision. A total of 58,787 animals were slaughtered in the abattoir during the study period. These included 51,956 (88 %) cattle, 5,890 (10%) sheep and 941 (2%) goats. The detected parasites included Echinococcus in 12,334/58,787 (21%) and Fasciola in 10,551/58,787 (18%) animals. Echinococcus infection was highest among goats (267/941, 28%), followed by cattle (11,591/51,956, 22%) and sheep (476/5,890, 8%). Fasciolosis was detected in 9,877/51,956 (19%) cattle and 178/941 (19%) goats. The number of animals slaughtered strongly decreased over time from 8,405 in 2006 to 1,605 in 2018. However, the proportion of parasitic infections remained high with some fluctuations over the study period. Echinococcosis and fasciolosis were very common with one out of five animals slaughtered infected. This is of public health concern and needs urgent multi-sectorial efforts from stakeholders at the national and regional level for control of these diseases. One health program approaches may warrant the control of transmission to humans.
Highlights
Zoonotic parasitic infections such as echinococcosis affect cattle, sheep and goats by lowering quality of meat and hides as well as decreasing milk production
Echinococcosis and fasciolosis were very common with one out of five animals slaughtered infected. This is of public health concern and needs urgent multi-sectorial efforts from stakeholders at the national and regional level for control of these diseases
In this study we investigated the trend and prevalence of echinococcosis and other zoonotic parasitic diseases among animals in an abattoir in North Gondar zone in Ethiopia during the period 2005 to 2018
Summary
Zoonotic parasitic infections are an important public health problem which require a one health approach strategy for control [1,2,3,4]. Zoonotic parasites can cause huge economic losses through decreased productivity of animals affected, and through condemnation of infected organs such as livers, kidneys and meat. Diagnosis of zoonotic parasites in animals is usually done by post-mortem visual inspection, incision and palpation of the organs This is systematically done for all animals slaughtered in abattoirs [3]. In Ethiopia, there are small abattoir-based studies on a limited number of cattle, sheep and goats that show a prevalence range of echinococcosis from 6% in Central Oromia, Adama [9] to 53% in Hawasa [10]. Abattoir-based animal studies may give indications about the risk of transmission to humans. In this study we investigated the trend and prevalence of echinococcosis and other zoonotic parasitic diseases among animals in an abattoir in North Gondar zone in Ethiopia during the period 2005 to 2018
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
