Prevalence, organ distribution, risk factors, and financial losses of hydatid cysts in sheep and goats slaughtered in restaurants in Jimma, south western Oromia

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was carried out from November 2010 through April 2011 to determine the prevalence, risk factors, number, size, and fertility of hydatid cysts in infected organs and assess the economic losses due to condemnation of organs in sheep and goats slaughtered in different restaurants in Jimma Town. For this purpose, a total of 804 small ruminants (502 sheep and 302 goats) slaughtered in Jimma Town were examined for presence of hydatid cysts. Hydatid cysts were detected in 149 (29.5 %) sheep and 75 (24.8 %) goats examined. Results of the study showed that statistically significant variation was never observed in the prevalence of hydatid cysts between sheep and goat hosts. In the study, 162 (25.8 %) males and 62 (35.5 %) females were found to harbor hydatid cysts in one or more of their organs. Significantly higher prevalence in females than males was recorded. An overall prevalence of 26.3 % in young and 29.4 % in adult sheep and goats of hydatid cysts was recorded. Our study showed that the liver was the most commonly infected organs of sheep and goats with the prevalence of 50.7 % followed by the lungs (37.5 %) whereas the rest 11.3 % was mixed infection. In sheep, out of the total 508 cysts collected, 38.6 % small, 45.5 % medium, and 21.3 % large were recorded. Similarly, for goats, the corresponding values of 33.8, 43.5, and 22.4 % were detected, respectively. In this study, a total of 168 from sheep and 135 cysts from goats collected from different infected organs were subjected to fertility and viability studies. Results of the study revealed that out of the total 95 (56.5 %) of the fertile cysts in sheep, 81 (85.3 %) were viable; however, the rest 14 (14.7 %) were nonviable. In goats, out of the total 59 (43.7 %) of the fertile cysts, 44 (74.6 %) were viable; however, the rest 15 (25.4 %) were nonviable. Significantly higher numbers of fertile cysts were recorded in the livers than in the lungs in both sheep and goats hosts. The total annual economic loss incurred due to cystic echinococcosis in sheep and goats slaughtered in restaurants in Jimma Town was estimated to be 149,312.8 USD (249,324 ETB). In view of the findings of the current study, there is a need and recommendation for proper disposal of offal, reduction of backyard slaughtering, and control of stray dogs to prevent the economic losses and public health hazard associated with the cystic echinococcosis. The findings of the current study imply that cystic echinococcosis is highly prevalent and incurs huge financial losses through condemnation of infected internal organs in sheep and goats slaughtered in Jimma. Further epidemiological studies on the comparative importance of intermediate host species, definitive hosts, genotype of strains from different host species, and zoonotic and economic significance of cystic echinococcosis are urgently needed in different parts of Ethiopia.