A survey of Cysticercus bovis (measles) infestation in cattle sent for slaughter to Botswana Meat Commission (BMC). A ten years retrospective study--1974-1983.

For the past ten years Cysticercus bovis (measles) infestation has proved to be on the increase in most parts of Botswana; this has been demonstrated by an incidence of 12-15% which represents a loss of up to five million pula (P1.00 = US $0.68) in detained and/or condemned carcasses per year. The losses caused by this disease will increase tremendously as the major markets for Botswana beef will soon stop accepting beef that has been frozen due to he disease. In the past fifteen years it is believed that the incidence was only at 2.0%. Table 1 shows the increase in incidence in different parts of the country according to veterinary interzonal areas, and figure 2 shows the increase patterns of the condition throughout the ten years of study. It appears there is a strong relationship between the disease and climate, the increase in incidence seem to be prominent during the drought. This could be so especially due to a very high cattle-human contact because it is during this period that there is competition for water sources between livestock and human-beings in most parts of this country. Data from the export abattoir, the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) was analysed and this incidence increase is documented in the text of this paper. Visits to areas as categorised were undertaken to assess the management systems and to observe possible climatic factors which could be tied to this problem.