Investigation of Adult Paramphistomum and Indigestible Foreign Bodies in the Fore Stomach of Cattle Slaughtered in Gondar Elfora Abattoir, Ethiopia

Background and Objective: Paramphistomum is an emerging gastrointestinal fluke that importantly affects livestock health and production worldwide. Thus, the current study was conducted to assess the prevalence and intensity of Paramphistomum and foreign bodies and to identify associated factors for, slaughtered cattle in Gondar Elfora Abattoir. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the prevalence of adult Paramphistomum and to identify foreign bodies and associated risk factors in the forestomach of cattle slaughtered at Gondar Elfora Abattoir. Routine postmortem examination of the gastrointestinal tract was done on 384 cattle. Results: The overall prevalence of adult Paramphistomum in the forestomach of cattle was 24.7% (95/384), with higher rates in poor body-conditioned (39.1%) and old-aged cattle (26.3%). Gastrointestinal foreign bodies were found in 36.5% (140/384) of cattle, with plastic bags (12.2%) being the most common, followed by cloth (6.8%) and rope (4.2%). Foreign bodies were more frequent in old-aged (87.6%) and poor body-conditioned cattle (57.1%), with the rumen being the primary site (72.8%). Poor body condition significantly increased susceptibility to both Paramphistomum infection and foreign body lodgment (p<0.05). Conclusion: Those animals' high exposure to foreign bodies and Paramphistomum was expected from the increased pollution of grazing land mainly by plastic bags and weak antihelmintic activities. Thus, control measures on targeting the Paramphistomum and its life cycle, and environmental protection from pollution through proper disposal of the indigestible waste should be implemented.