Hydatidosis of Camels and Cattle Slaughtered In Sokoto State, Nothern Nigeria.

Abstract

This investigation was carried out from January to March 2010 in the Sokoto metropolitan Abattoir to assess the current status of hydatidosis in camels and cattle. Based on routine meat examination, hydatid cyst count and characterization was conducted. A total of 189 camels and 285 cattle were examined. Of these, 84 (44.4%) camels and 5 (1.8%) cattle were found to harbour one or more hydatid cysts. The prevalence rates in the two species of animals were highly significant (P<0.001). The occurrence of the cysts in lungs and liver were 93.2% and 6.7% in camel and 25% and 75% in cattle. A total of 104 cysts were collected from camels, out of which 73(70.2%) were small and 31(29.8%) were medium sized. The 5(100%) cysts recovered from the cattle were all small cysts. There was no association (X² = 3.695 and 3.2 at p>0.05) between size of the cyst and organs infected in camels and cattle respectively. In camels, 82(79%) cysts recovered were fertile, 15(14%) were sterile and 7(8%) were calcified. Similarly, 4(80%) cysts from cattle were sterile while 1(20%) was calcified. The study concludes that hydatidosis could be a health problem in this area if not checked because of the high prevalence recorded which might be due to the presence of socio-economic conditions favourable for the disease and maintenance of high level of infection. There is therefore need for serious attention for its prevention and control.

Key words: hydatidosis, prevalence, cyst, camels, cattle