The Major Platyhelminthes Parasites Causes of Red Offal Condemnation and Its Direct Economic Losses in Cattle Slaughtered at the Nekemte Municipal Abattoir, Western Ethiopia

Platyhelminthes are a significant cause of organ condemnation across the globe, particularly in Ethiopia. Consequently, a cross-sectional study was conducted from January to May 2024 to identify the Platyhelminthes responsible for organ condemnation and estimate its economic impact in cattle slaughtered at the Nekemte municipal abattoir. Standard ante-mortem and postmortem inspection procedures were employed. A total of 422 cattle were included in the study through systematic random sampling. Among the 422 slaughtered cattle, 59 (14%) exhibited clinical signs in ante-mortem examination, including rough hair coat (3.3%), lameness (2.6%), coughing (2.4%), tick infestation (1.9%), depression (1.7%), branding (1.2%), and blindness (0.9%). Postmortem examinations revealed that 132 (31.2%) cattle were infected by Platyhelminthes parasites. Due to these helminths 92 (21.9%) livers, 52 (12.3%) lungs, and 13 (3.1%) hearts were condemned. The major Platyhelminthes identified were Fasciola spp., hydatid cysts, Cysticercus bovis, and combined infections of Fasciola and hydatid cysts, with prevalence’s of 15.9%, 6.4%, 3.1%, and 5.9%, respectively. A statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) was found in the prevalence of these major Platyhelminthes based on age and body condition. However, no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) was observed in the sex and origin. The total annual economic loss due to organ condemnation in the study area amounted to 612,470.00 ETB. This study highlights a relatively high prevalence of organ condemnation due to Platyhelminthes infections. Thus, awareness should be raised among cattle owners and abattoir workers regarding the impact of parasites and the importance of safe disposal practices of condemned organs.