A cross-sectional study was carried at the Bishoftu municipal abattoir from November 2015 to March 2016, to estimate the prevalence of bovine hydatidosis and determine its related risk factors. A total of 420 bovine were selected randomly, and routine meat examination revealed that 161 of them had single or multiple hydatid cysts in the organs. 38.3% (95% CI=33.66 – 43.17) prevalence of hydatidosis. A statistical analysis revealed no significant correlation between the prevalence of bovine hydatidosis and the species of animals (p> 0.05). The age of cattle had a statistically significant correlation with hHydatidosis infection (OR=1.637, p = 0.00), and over five-year-olds were more likely to contract the disease (41.7%) than those who were under-five (30.44%).The most prevalent cases of bovine hydatidosis were observed in cattle with poor body condition (54.5%), followed by moderate (34.4%), and animals in good body condition (27.3%) in which statistically significant difference is was observed (OR=1.558, P=0.02). It was found that the lungs contained the highest number of hydatid cysts with 101 (66.73%), followed by the liver with 68 (31.52%), kidney with 6 (0.96%), the heart with 3 (0.48%), and the spleen with 2 (0.3%). More than 98% of the affected organs were lungs and livers, with the lungs being the most infected. The majority of 82 cysts assessed were calcified (40.24 %), had sterility (13.6 %), had fertile (17.07 %), and were viable (13.33 %). The study recommends proper meat inspection and disposal of condemned organs at the slaughter points to reduce the perpetuation of the parasite in the environment where they can be easily accessed by the definitive hosts.

Keywords: Abattoir; Bishoftu; Bovine; Cyst viability; Hydatidosis; Prevalence;Ethiopia.