Abstract:
Bovine schistosomiasis is one of the major constrains to cattle production in many countries
including Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2010 to June 2010
with the objective of determining the prevalence of bovine schistosomiasis and its associative
risk factors in and around Merawi town, northwest, Ethiopia. A total of 384 fresh fecal sample
were collected from the rectum of a cattle and examined by sedimentation technique to identify
ova of Schistosoma bovis spp. Study parameters such as sex, age, body condition score, origin,
feeding management, grazing area, irrigation condition, cattle staying period in the study area,
awareness of cattle owners about a disease and canal cleaning practice were considered. Out of
384 fecal samples examination, 30(7.8%) were found to be positive for bovine schistosomiasis.
There was significant statistical variation in the prevalence of bovine schistosomiasis (P<0.05)
with in age groups, body condition, grazing area and staying period in the study area of a cattle.
In study , higher prevalence of bovine schistosomiasis was observed in cattle with medium body
condition, young aged (2-5yrs), free grazed cattle, grazed in more swampy and more irrigated
areas, cattle have 2-5 years staying period in study area, in cattle owned by farmers having poor
knowledge or no idea about bovine schistosomiasis. S.bovis Prevalence was also higher among
cattle owned by farmers who did not practice canal cleaning and in cattle originated from
swampy and high surface water areas. The least prevalence was observed in cattle with good
body condition, adults (>5years), completely home feeding, grazed in dry area, less or no
irrigated area, cattle have ≤2 years staying periods in the study area, owners who had enough
knowledge about bovine schistosomiasis, in cattle owned by farmers who often practice canal
cleaning and , originated from dry area. Therefore, control of S.bovis in based on drug treatment
and sanitation measures are recommended.
Keywords; Bovine; Prevalence; Schistosoma bovis.