Prevalence, Cysts Distributions, Associated Risk Factors and Economic Importance of Cysticercus Tenuicollis in Small Ruminant Slaughtered at Jigjiga Municipal Abattoir, Somali Regional state, Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study was done between November 2019 and April 2020 with the goal of identifying the prevalence of cysticercus tenuicollis in small ruminants, evaluating possible risk factors associated with it, and estimating the amount of the direct economic losses associated with condemned organs. A total of 545 small ruminants slaughtered at Jigjiga municipal abattoir were randomly selected and managed through ante-mortem and post-mortem examinations. From the total inspected shoats, 98 (17.9%) were recorded to be affected with C. tenuicollis. From the 349 inspected goats, C. tenuicollis was found in 71 (20.3%), and from the 196 inspected sheep, 27 (13.8%). The prevalence of C. tenuicollis according to their sex was higher in male sheep 16 (14.9%) and goats 51 (22.6%) than female sheep 11(12.35%) and goat 20 (16.12%). The infection rate of C. tenuicollis in regards to age group revealed that a higher incidence was recorded in adult goats 60 (22%) and sheep 20 (14.3%) than young goats 11 (14.4%) and sheep 7 (12.2%). Goats 27 (26.2%) and sheep 8 (20.5%, originated from Babile were more infected compared to goats and sheep from Jigjiga (23.7%, 17.3%) and Kebribayah (10.8%, 7.3%) respectively, with a statistically significant variations (P<0.05) among goats coming from various areas. Related to body condition scores and the disease, higher prevalence was noted in poor body condition of sheep and goat (18.6%, 27%) than medium (13.7%, 19.6%) and good (10.6%, 14%) body scores respectively, with significant difference in goat (P<0.05). Anatomical distribution of Metacestode revealed the highest proportions of C.tenuicollis in omentum followed by liver than any other organs. During the active abattoir investigation, a total of about 385,621.236 ETB (10,810.8 USD$) were lost due to organ condemnation. The findings imply that C. tenuicollis is widespread, may cause health Problems for shoats, and may lead to economic loss for the country. This indicates that the problem must be controlled by reducing the number of stray dogs, deworming dogs, avoiding backyard executions, and properly disposing of infected viscera.