Abstract
A study on the prevalence of hydatidosis in cattle, goats and sheep was carried out in Ngorongoro district of Arusha region, Tanzania. A 4-years data records from four slaughter slabs were retrieved and analysed. In addition, meat inspection was done in the same slaughter slabs for nine months and 64 households were interviewed to assess the community awareness on hydatidosis. Results showed the overall prevalence of hydatidosis to be 47.9%. Species prevalence of 48.7%, 34.7% and 63.8% in cattle, goats and sheep respectively was recorded. Of 174 cysts examined in cattle, 37 (21.3%) were fertile, 126 (72.4%) were sterile and 11 (6.3%) were calcified. Out of 215 goats and 67 sheep cysts examined, 52 (24.7%) and 26 (38.8%) were fertile, 138 (64.2%) and 38 (56.7%) were sterile, 24 (11.2%) and 3 (4.5%) were calcified respectively. The higher percentage of fertile hydatid cysts in sheep and goats coupled with the practice of backyard slaughter of sheep and goats suggests that, these animals could be important intermediate hosts for the maintenance of the domestic life cycle of E. granulosus in the locality. Questionnaire survey revealed that 17.2% of the respondents were aware of hydatidosis but non of them were knowledgeable on its transmission. Up to 84.4% of the respondents had domestic ruminants and donkeys, while 89.1% had dogs. Of the households with dogs, only 19.3% had their dogs dewormed at least once in life time. Most of the households (87.7%) had their dogs managed freely and 77.2% of the respondents reported school children to be the closest friends of dogs in the family. The prevalence of E. granulosus infection in wildlife and the possible relationship of the domestic cycle to the sylvatic cycle operating in the same area are unknown and need to be studied.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahmadi, N. A., 2005. Hydatidosis in camels (Camelus dromedarius) and their potential role in the epidemiology of Echinococcus granulosus in Iran. Journal of Helminthology, 79, 119–125. doi:10.1079/JOH2005279
Anonymous, 2001. World Health Organization Office International des Epizooties. WHO/OIE manual on echinococcosis in humans and animals: a public health problem of global concern. World Organization for Animal Health, Paris, France.
Arbabi, M., Hooshyar, H., 2006. Survey of Echinococcosis and Hydatidosis in Kashan Region, Central Iran. Iranian Journal of Public Health, 35(1), 75–81.
Azlaf, R. and Dakkak, A., 2006. Epidemiological study of the cystic echinococcosis in Morocco. Veterinary Parasitology, 137, 83–93. doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.01.003
Bardonnet, K., Benchikh-Elfegoun, M.C., Bart, J.M., Harraga, S., Hannache, N., Haddad, S., Dumon, H., Vuitton, D.A. and Piarroux, R., 2003. Cystic echinococcosis in Algeria: cattle act as reservoirs of a sheep strain and may contribute to human contamination. Veterinary Parasitology, 116, 35–44. doi:10.1016/S0304-4017(03)00255-3
Cleaveland S., Kaare, M., Tiringa, P., Mlengeya, T. and Barrat, J., 2003. A dog rabies vaccination campaign in rural Africa: impact on the incidence of dog rabies and human dog-bite injuries. Vaccine, 21, 1965–1973. doi:10.1016/S0264-410X(02)00778-8
Coulombier, D., Fagan, R., Hathcock, L. and Smith, C., 2001. Epi Info 6 version 6.04. A word processing, database and statistical program for public health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Delaware, USA.
Craig, P. S. and Zbigniew, P., 2002. Cestode Zoonoses: Echinococcosis and Cysticercosis. An Emergent and Global Problem. IOS press Ohmsha, NATO Science Series, Vol. 341, 395pp.
Dalimi, A., Motamedi, G., Hosseini, M., Mohammadian, B., Malaki, H., Ghamari, Z. and Ghaffari, F. F., 2002. Echinococcosis/hydatidosis in western Iran. Veterinary Parasitology, 105 (2), 161–171. doi:10.1016/S0304-4017(02)00005-5
Eckert, J. and Deplazes, P., 2004. Biological, epidemiological, and clinical aspects of echinococcosis, a zoonosis of increasing concern. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 17(1), 107–135. doi:10.1128/CMR.17.1.107-135.2004
Elmahdi, I. E., Ali, Q.M., Magzoub, M. M., Ali Abrahim, A.M., Saad, M.B. and Romig, T., 2004. Cystic echinoccosis of livestock and humans in central Sudan. Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, 98, 473–9. doi:10.1179/000349804225003578
Jenkins, D. J., Romig, T. and Thompson, T. R. C. A., 2005. Emergence/re-emergence of Echinococcus spp.—a global update. International Journal of Parasitology, 35, 1205–1219. doi:10.1016/j.ijpara.2005.07.014
Kassem, H. H., 2006. Hydatidosis - echinococcosis in Libya (review article). Journal of Egyptian Society of Parasitology, 36(2), 21–26.
Kebede, N., Mitiku, A. and Tilahun, G., 2008. Hydatidosis of slaughtered animals in Bahir Dar Abattoir, Northwestern Ethiopia. Tropical Animal Health and Production, doi:10.1007/s11250-008-9152-3.
Macpherson, C. N. L., 1985. Epidemiology of hydatid disease in Kenya: a study of domestic intermediate hosts in Maasailand. Transaction of the Royal society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 79, 209–217.
Macpherson, C. N. L., Craig, P. S., Romig, T., Zeyhle, E. and Watschinger, H., 1989. Observations on human echinococcosis (hydatidosis) and evaluation of transmission factors in the Maasai of northern Tanzania. Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, 83, 489–497.
Macpherson, C. N. L., Siefert, L., Francis, B., Kabuusu, R., Butler, B. and Bakamanume, B. 2004. Human cystic echinococcosis in Uganda. International Archieve of Hydatidosis, 35, 42.
Magambo, J., Njoroge, E. and Zeyhle, E., 2006. Epidemiology and control of echinococcosis in sub-Saharan Africa. Parasitology International, 55, 193–195.
McManus, D. P., 2006. Molecular discrimination of taeniid cestodes. Parasitology International, 55, 31–S37.
Ngowi, H. A., Kassuku, A. A., Maeda, G. E. M., Boa, M. E. and Willingham, A. L., 2004. A slaughter slab survey for extra intestinal porcine helminth infections in northern Tanzania. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 36, 335–340.
Njoroge, E. M., Mbithi, P. M., Gathuma, J. M., Wachira, T. M., Magambo, J. K. and Zeyhle, E. A., 2002. Study of cystic echinococcosis in slaughter animals in three selected areas of northern Turkana, Kenya. Veterinary Parasitology, 104, 85–91.
Ocaido, M., Siefert, L. and Baranga, J., 2004. Helminth risk associated with game and livestock interactions in and around Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda. African Journal of Ecology, 42, 42–48.
Radfar, M. H. and Iranyar, N., 2004. Biochemical profiles of hydatid cyst fluids of E. granulosus of human and animal origin in Iran. Veterinarski Arhir, 74(61), 435–442.
Tanzania National Census., 2002. (http://www.tanzania.go.tz/census/report2.htm).
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank NORAD for financial assistance. Much more thanks are due to Dr. Sarah Cleavelands, Dr. Shirima, G. M. and Mr. Paulo Tango for their great contribution to the success of this work.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ernest, E., Nonga, H.E., Kassuku, A.A. et al. Hydatidosis of slaughtered animals in Ngorongoro district of Arusha region, Tanzania. Trop Anim Health Prod 41, 1179–1185 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-008-9298-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-008-9298-z