RESUMO
Aim: To determine prevalence and associated risk factors of hydatidosis and to assess burden and size of cysts in cattle slaughtered at Adigrat municipal abattoir. Study Design: Cross - sectional study. Place and Duration of the Study: Adigrat municipal abattoir, Ethiopia, between September 2012 and February 2013. Methodology: A total of 360 cattle slaughtered were selected randomly and subjected to ante and post mortem examination. During ante mortem examination age, body condition and breed of each cattle was recorded. During post mortem examination each visceral organ were inspected by visual inspection, palpation and incisions. Result: Out of the total examined cattle, 67(18.61%) were infected with hydatidosis. A significant higher infection was detected in above five years (14.17%) (χ2=15.593, P=.000) than below five years (4.44%). Regarding body condition, highest prevalence (11.94%) was in poor followed by medium and good body conditions 4.44 and 2.22%, respectively (χ2=124.894, P = .000). However, no significant variation (χ2=4.077, P=.13), was observed with related to breed of cattle. From the total examined cattle, 38 (10.56 %) have hydatid cyst in their lungs, 16(4.44%) in livers, 4(1.11%) in heart, 3(0.83%) in spleen, 2(0.56%) in kidney and 4(1.11%) in multiple organs. A total of 202 hydatid cysts were collected, of which 50.49% were small, 27.23% medium and 22.28% large sized cysts. Concerning cysts size distribution in different organs, higher numbers of medium and large sized cysts were found in lung, while highest numbers of small sized cysts was in liver and related to body condition of cattle, highest numbers of small sized cysts were recovered from good and medium while higher numbers of large and medium sized cysts from poor body condition. Conclusion: Hydatidosis is an important zoonotic disease in the study area. Therefore, it is necessary to design appropriate strategy for prevention and control.