One health epidemiological investigation of bovine cysticercosis and human Taenia saginata taeniasis in selected districts of the Kellem Wollega Zone, Ethiopia

One health epidemiological investigation of bovine cysticercosis and human Taenia saginata taeniasis in selected districts of the Kellem Wollega Zone, Ethiopia | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article One health epidemiological investigation of bovine cysticercosis and human Taenia saginata taeniasis in selected districts of the Kellem Wollega Zone, Ethiopia Kirubel Paulos, Wakgari Mosisa, Abraham Diriba This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9284039/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 10 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Bovine cysticercosis and human Taenia saginata taeniasis are neglected zoonotic diseases with significant public health and economic impacts, particularly in developing countries where the consumption of raw meat and inadequate sanitation are common. This study provides the first One Health assessment of Taenia saginata transmission dynamics in the study area. A cross-sectional one health study was conducted in two selected districts of Kellem Wollega Zone (Dambi Dollo and Dale Sadi), Oromia Region, Ethiopia, from January 2025 to November 2025. Active abattoir inspection of 604 cattle was conducted to determine the prevalence, anatomical distribution, and viability of Cysticercus bovis cysts. Additionally, a structured questionnaire survey of 200 randomly selected individuals was conducted to assess the occurrence of Taenia saginata taeniasis, associated risk factors, and community knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. The prevalence of bovine cysticercosis was 6.46% (95% CI: 4.76–8.71), with 35.8% of recovered cysts viable. The triceps muscle showed the highest cyst detection rate (3.64%). Multivariable logistic regression indicated that abattoir location was significantly associated with infection (P < 0.05), with a higher prevalence in Dale Sadi abattoir (11.36%) than in Dambi Dollo (3.65%). The self-reported lifetime occurrence of Taenia saginata taeniasis in humans was 23% (95% CI: 17.5–29.4). Age, consumption of raw or undercooked beef, and use of rivers or ponds as water sources were significant risk factors (P < 0.05). The KAP survey revealed that, although majority of the respondents (78%) were aware of tapeworm infection and its link to raw meat consumption, 55.5% still reported eating raw or undercooked beef. Additionally, 85% of the respondents used uncovered pit latrines increasing the risk of environmental contamination and transmission. In conclusion, the study confirms a persistent Taenia saginata transmission cycle in the study area. Low sanitation standards and the deeply ingrained cultural practice of raw meat consumption sustain the high prevalence. These findings highlight the need for an integrated One Health intervention that targets behavioral modification in addition to infrastructure improvements to prevent transmission. Health sciences/Diseases Health sciences/Health care Health sciences/Medical research Health sciences/Risk factors Bovine cysticercosis Taenia saginata taeniasis One Health Knowledge-Attitude-Practice Epidemiology Ethiopia Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviewers agreed at journal 17 May, 2026 Reviews received at journal 14 May, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 12 May, 2026 Reviews received at journal 11 May, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 21 Apr, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 16 Apr, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 16 Apr, 2026 Editor invited by journal 07 Apr, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 05 Apr, 2026 First submitted to journal 05 Apr, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9284039","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":626842373,"identity":"f16e5dc4-ad18-4a7e-a3ba-7ec1cede1467","order_by":0,"name":"Kirubel Paulos","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA+klEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBACCWYGBiCyADKZGx9+qADRzA3EaJEAMhmbjSXOgLQwEtDCgNDSJsHbBhIjoEWynfeZdEGFRB7/jMRmA8l5tdH87UAtPyq24dQizcxuJj3jjESxxI3ExgeF247nzjjM2MDYc+Y2Ti1yzGxs0rxtEokNN0C2bDuW2wDUwszYRkjLP4nE+TcSgX6Zcyx3PiEt0mAtDRKJG8BaGmpyNxDSItnMxmw945hEseGZh8BAPnYgdyNQy0F8fpE4f4zxdkGNTZ7c8eSDDz/U1OXOO3/44IMfFbi1wEAClD4MJg8QVI+kpY4YxaNgFIyCUTDCAAAdNVaKqc6bRwAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"Dambi Dollo University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Kirubel","middleName":"","lastName":"Paulos","suffix":""},{"id":626842374,"identity":"f2c4dfe3-d438-42e3-bf7c-c909674a59bc","order_by":1,"name":"Wakgari Mosisa","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Dambi Dollo University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Wakgari","middleName":"","lastName":"Mosisa","suffix":""},{"id":626842375,"identity":"8475d778-eba4-40a8-a552-a0624512adbe","order_by":2,"name":"Abraham Diriba","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Dambi Dollo University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Abraham","middleName":"","lastName":"Diriba","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-03-31 20:08:47","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9284039/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9284039/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":107706196,"identity":"53fb373e-63ed-4e6d-9390-f709a2e080f3","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-24 09:17:38","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":319222,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"EditedC.bovisandT.saginatapaper.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9284039/v1_covered_fc574b55-2760-44ec-b948-69a5e58224ed.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"One health epidemiological investigation of bovine cysticercosis and human Taenia saginata taeniasis in selected districts of the Kellem Wollega Zone, Ethiopia","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"scientific-reports","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scirep","sideBox":"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Scientific Reports","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Scientific Reports","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Bovine cysticercosis, Taenia saginata taeniasis, One Health, Knowledge-Attitude-Practice, Epidemiology, Ethiopia","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9284039/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9284039/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eBovine cysticercosis and human \u003cem\u003eTaenia saginata\u003c/em\u003e taeniasis are neglected zoonotic diseases with significant public health and economic impacts, particularly in developing countries where the consumption of raw meat and inadequate sanitation are common. This study provides the first One Health assessment of \u003cem\u003eTaenia saginata\u003c/em\u003e transmission dynamics in the study area. A cross-sectional one health study was conducted in two selected districts of Kellem Wollega Zone (Dambi Dollo and Dale Sadi), Oromia Region, Ethiopia, from January 2025 to November 2025. Active abattoir inspection of 604 cattle was conducted to determine the prevalence, anatomical distribution, and viability of \u003cem\u003eCysticercus bovis\u003c/em\u003e cysts. Additionally, a structured questionnaire survey of 200 randomly selected individuals was conducted to assess the occurrence of \u003cem\u003eTaenia saginata\u003c/em\u003e taeniasis, associated risk factors, and community knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. The prevalence of bovine cysticercosis was 6.46% (95% CI: 4.76\u0026ndash;8.71), with 35.8% of recovered cysts viable. The triceps muscle showed the highest cyst detection rate (3.64%). Multivariable logistic regression indicated that abattoir location was significantly associated with infection (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05), with a higher prevalence in Dale Sadi abattoir (11.36%) than in Dambi Dollo (3.65%). The self-reported lifetime occurrence of \u003cem\u003eTaenia saginata\u003c/em\u003e taeniasis in humans was 23% (95% CI: 17.5\u0026ndash;29.4). Age, consumption of raw or undercooked beef, and use of rivers or ponds as water sources were significant risk factors (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). The KAP survey revealed that, although majority of the respondents (78%) were aware of tapeworm infection and its link to raw meat consumption, 55.5% still reported eating raw or undercooked beef. Additionally, 85% of the respondents used uncovered pit latrines increasing the risk of environmental contamination and transmission. In conclusion, the study confirms a persistent \u003cem\u003eTaenia saginata\u003c/em\u003e transmission cycle in the study area. Low sanitation standards and the deeply ingrained cultural practice of raw meat consumption sustain the high prevalence. These findings highlight the need for an integrated One Health intervention that targets behavioral modification in addition to infrastructure improvements to prevent transmission.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"One health epidemiological investigation of bovine cysticercosis and human Taenia saginata taeniasis in selected districts of the Kellem Wollega Zone, Ethiopia","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-04-23 23:00:35","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9284039/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"284204039168011126838792287978676694425","date":"2026-05-17T11:41:54+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-05-14T20:23:56+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"300021027176508598160928255644348677072","date":"2026-05-12T12:44:08+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-05-11T11:40:38+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"258254418286960870310475101687400392849","date":"2026-04-21T07:42:38+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-04-16T07:24:04+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-04-16T07:01:55+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2026-04-07T16:56:23+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2026-04-05T20:16:46+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Scientific Reports","date":"2026-04-05T20:11:07+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"scientific-reports","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scirep","sideBox":"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Scientific Reports","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Scientific Reports","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"bff79788-1fee-4cba-94dc-a12c5f62ea1f","owner":[],"postedDate":"April 23rd, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"284204039168011126838792287978676694425","date":"2026-05-17T11:41:54+00:00","index":56,"fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-05-14T20:23:56+00:00","index":54,"fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"300021027176508598160928255644348677072","date":"2026-05-12T12:44:08+00:00","index":53,"fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-05-11T11:40:38+00:00","index":48,"fulltext":""}],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[{"id":66710269,"name":"Health sciences/Diseases"},{"id":66710270,"name":"Health sciences/Health care"},{"id":66710271,"name":"Health sciences/Medical research"},{"id":66710272,"name":"Health sciences/Risk factors"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-04-23T23:00:35+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-04-23 23:00:35","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-9284039","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-9284039","identity":"rs-9284039","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}