Tilahun, Getachew (Prof)Kebede, Nigatu2018-06-292023-11-082018-06-292023-11-082004-06http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/5055This study was conducted to develop and evaluate serological tests for C. bovis for the diagnosis in live animals and determine the prevalence in Addis Ababa Abattoir. Postmortem inspection (PMI), indirect hemagglutinatio test (IHAT), indirect Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and fecal examination techniques were conducted. A total of 743 serum samples, 522 from Addis Ababa Abattoir, 101 from Repi PLC Dairy Farm and 109 from Yeka-abado Farmers Association were collected and 11 negative controls from France. Postmortem inspection was conducted on cattle slaughtered from Addis Ababa abattoir, 39 (7.4%) were positive for C. bovis. The hearts of these animals were thoroughly inspected and live C. bovis cysts were collected for antigen preparation. The protein concentration of the cyst was measured using the Lowry method. Indirect ELISA was conducted on known positive and known negative samples and due to shortage and lack of fresh reagents ELISA was not conducted on the other samples. The cut-off was 0.84 with 100% and 81% sensitivity and specificity respectively. Parallely IHAT was conducted on positive and negative samples, and a titre of 1:64 and above was considered as positive. IHAT had 100% and above 91% sensitivity and specificity respectively and when compared with ELISA it showed better specificity. Based on this test 149 (28.5%) from the Abattoir, 33 (30.2%) from Yeka-abado Farmers Association and 8 (7.9%) from Repi PLC Dairy Farm samples were positive for C. bovis. The prevalence in the two management systems, namely Yeka-abado Farmers Association and Repi PLC Dairy Farm, was significantly different (p<0.05). The cyst fluid, protoscolex and cyst membrane were separately evaluated; for antigenic properties and the fluid was found to have a better discriminating titre. Postmortem inspection for Cysticercus bovis when compared with the serological tests was less sensitive. For fecal examination, the sedimentation and flotation techniques were conducted and cross reactivity with other helminths were either absent or very low. Further refinement and improvement of both serological test systems is necessary to increase the diagnostic potential. KEYWORDS: Indirect ELISA, IHAT, Titre, OD, Postmortem inspection, Sensitivity, Specificity, Cysticercus bovis, Taenia saginataenIndirect ELISAIHATTitre ODPostmortem inspectionSensitivitySpecificityCysticercus bovisTaenia saginatThesis