Assessment of Coenurus cerebralis and its economic impact in sheep brain harvested at Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Ethiopia.

Asefa Deressa, Tesham Tilahun, Ayele Tadesse, Mekoro Beyene, Gashaw Gebrewold, M.Pal

Abstract
A cross-sectional survey was carried out at Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI), Addis Ababa, from November 2010 to March 2011 to assess the occurrence and its economic impact of Coenurus cerebralis in sheep. Of a total 445 sheep heads examined, 21(4.7%) were found to be affected by coenurosisis. The prevalence of Coenurus cerbralis was 2.7% and 5.1% in males and females sheep, respectively, however, their difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Postmortem examination had showed that Coenurus cerebralis occurred with a range of 1 to 5 cysts in each animal. One cyst occurred most frequently ( 61.9% ) followed by 3, 4, and 5 cysts. The great majority of the cysts (94.4%) were located in the cerebral hemisphere where as 5.4% of cysts were localized on both sides of the middle cerebellar hemisphere. Out of 21 infected brains, 15 (71.4 %) and 6 (28.6%) were trimmed and rejected, respectively. From the total of 6 rejected (total condemned) brain, all of the 6 (100.0%) brains had deep lesions. Total annual financial loss due to brain/animal condemnation was estimated at 8330 Ethiopian Birr (490 US$). Based on this survey, it is concluded that coenurosis is one of the most important livestock parasitic diseases especially in sheep in Ethiopia which results great economic loss at national level and therefore, appropriate control measure should be taken.

Key words: Coenurus cerebralis, Prevalence, Sheep brain condemnation, Ethiopia.