Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2019 to April 2020 on bovine slaughtered in Jigjiga municipal abattoir to determine the prevalence, cyst viability, organ distribution, and public health significance of bovine cysticercosis. Among 340 examined cattle, 11(3.24%) were found to be infected by Cysticercus bovis. The comparative higher prevalence was observed in female animals (3.4%) than male (2.9%) but a significant difference was not observed. Age-wise prevalence result showed that significantly (plt;0.05) higher prevalence was detected in old (3.7%) than adult (2.46%). The body condition of animals had a significant (plt;0.05) effect on the occurrence of Cysticercus bovis infection with higher infection rates observed in animal's poor body condition (3.7%)than animals with medium and good body condition scores. A total of 21 (6.18%) cysts were collected of which 10(2.94%) were viable while others 11(3.23%) have degenerated. Regarding the anatomical distribution of cysticerci were highest in the shoulder muscles 6(1.76%) followed by masseter muscles 5(1.47%), tongue 5(1.47%), heart 4(1.17%), and liver 1(0.29%).