Bovine Lungworm: Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors in Haramaya Town, Ethiopia.

Background: Lungworm infection, caused by a nematode parasite, leads to bronchitis or pneumonia, high-mortality rates in cattle, and significant economic losses. Objectives: This study is aimed at assessing the prevalence of bovine lungworm and identify potential risk factors in Haramaya town, Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed from December 2023 to April 2024, with animals selected using a simple random sampling method. Prevalence and associated risk factors were analyzed using chi-square and logistic regression tests in Stata Version 17. Results: A total of 384 cattle fecal samples were collected and analyzed in the Haramaya veterinary parasitology laboratory for larvae identification. Of these samples, 16 (4.2%) tested positive for lungworm infection. Logistic regression analysis showed a statistically significant association between the disease and factors such as age, body condition, and management systems (p ≤ 0.05). The prevalence of lungworm infection was significantly higher in cattle with poor body condition (8.7%) than those in good condition (3.6% and 1.4%). Cattle with poor body condition were 0.6 times more likely (OR = 0.6, C I = 0.308-1.16) to be infected than those with good body condition. Cattle in extensive management systems had 4.26 times higher odds (OR = 4.26, C I = 1.16-15.62) of being infected compared with those in intensive management systems. Furthermore, young cattle were 0.23 times more likely (OR = 0.23, C I = 0.078-0.7) to be infected than adults. Conclusions: The relatively low prevalence of bovine lungworm in this region carries notable economic consequences. To mitigate these impacts, preventive measures such as vaccination and deworming should be implemented.