Cysts and parasites in an abattoir in Northwest Ethiopia; an urgent call for action on “one health”

Abstract

Introduction: 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.
 Methodology: 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.
 Results: 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.
 Conclusions: 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.

Foodborne Pathogens and Antimicrobial Resistance in Ethiopia: An Urgent Call for Action on “One Health”

“… [ 29 ] Alemu G. et al, 2018 Tomato, cabbage, carrots, green pepper and salad Local open markets G. lamblia, Cryptosporidium spp., Hookworms, B. coli, E. histolytica, Cyclospora spp., Stronglode, A. lubmbricoids [ 30 ] Bekele F et al, 2020 Tomato, lettuce, cabbage, carrots, green pepper and avocado Local open markets Toxocara spp., H. nana., E. histolytica/dispar, G. intestinalis, H. diminuta and Hookworms, A. lubmbricoids [ 31 ] Getahun et al, 2020 Meat Abattoirs Echinococcosis, Fasciola and Cysticercus [ 32 ] Muhammed S & Birhanu T. 2020 Organ (lung, liver, heart and kidneys) Municipal Abattoirs Bovine hydatidosis, Bovine Fasciolosis and Cysticercus bovis [ 33 ] Molla D. et al, 2018 Organ (lung, liver, heart, kidneys, head and tongue) Abattoir condemnations Hydatidosis, Fasciolosis and Cysticercus [ 34 ] …”

Comiso de vísceras por fascioliasis y equinococosis quística en bovinos, ovinos y caprinos faenados en Apurímac, Perú

“…Por lo que, la pérdida económica total en la temporada de estudio fue de USD 16.507.46. (3,4,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14). Del mismo modo, el porcentaje de infección por fascioliasis en ovinos (53.2%) y caprinos (21%) también fue muy alto, superior a lo reportado en otros países (3,4,5), solo inferior a lo hallado en caprinos de Etiopía (6).…”

“…El porcentaje de infección por equinococosis quística en bovinos (5.4%) fue moderado, similar al de Huancarama ( 21), ubicada en la misma región; pero, inferior a lo hallado en otros países (6,19,20). Sin embargo, el porcentaje de infección por equinococosis quística en ovinos y caprinos fue elevado (16.7% y 12.4%, respectivamente), solo inferior a reportes en Etiopía (6).…”

“…La fascioliasis es producida por el estado adulto del platelminto trematodo Fasciola hepatica, cuyos hospederos definitivos son los rumiantes; además, del ser humano como hospedero accidental, quienes se infectan por ingerir a la metacercaria (estadio larvario), las cuales se encuentran en el pasto, hierbas o plantas acuáticas que llevan la larva pegada a su extensión (1,2). Al respecto, se ha reportado infección en bovinos, ovinos y caprinos, entre 0.1-38% en Grecia, Irán y Etiopía (3,4,5,6); así como, 0.6-41.5% en países del continente americano (7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14) y 38.2-59.5% en Perú (15,16,17).…”

“…Cuando ellos se infectan, la larva se desarrolla especialmente, en el hígado o pulmones de estos (1,18). De esa manera, existe reportes de infección por equinococosis quística en bovinos, ovinos y caprinos entre 0.2-22% en Egipto, Irán y Etiopía (6,19); así como, 12.4% en Chile (20) y 2.6-6.5% en Perú (21).…”