Prevalence of Hydatid Cysts in Slaughtered Animals in Wasit Province, Iraq

Abstract

Hydatid cysts, is an infection caused by tapeworms of the genus Echinococcus, which infect a wide range of domestic and wild animals in addition to humans. The current study was aimed to detect the prevalence of hydatid disease in field animals with estimation the association of infection to different animal risk factors including season, age, sex and infected organ. For this purpose, slaughtered animals (buffaloes, cattle, camels, goats, and sheep) at different areas in Wasit province (Iraq) during March (2023) to the April (2024) were examined grossly to identify the presence of infection. Of totally 1841 slaughtered animals, the total prevalence rate of hydatid cysts was 3.75%. Among different animal species, values of prevalence rate and the risk of infection were increased significantly in cattle (4.68% and 2.72, respectively) and decreased in sheep (0.874% and 0.18, respectively). However, no positive infections were detected in camels and goats (0%). Distribution of hydatid cysts was showed significant higher prevalence and risk in liver (76.81% and 3.31, respectively) than other infected organs; lung (13.04% and 0.149, respectively), mesentery (5.8% and 0.062, respectively), spleen (2.9% and 0.299, respectively) and brain (1.45% and 0.015, respectively). According to season factor, the prevalence rate of hydatid cysts was differed insignificantly in comparison between values of spring (4.6%), summer (4.01%), autumn (385%) and winter (3.01%). Whilst, the risk of hydatid cysts infection was elevated significantly in spring (1.243) and reduced in winter (0.734) when compared to values of summer (1.18) and autumn (1.041). Regarding the age of study animals, the findings of prevalence rate and risk of hydatid cysts infection were increased significantly in animals aged ³ 36 months (11.98%) more than those aged £ 6 months (1.18%), ³ 7-11 months (1.23%), and ³12-35 months (3.27%). Although no significant differences were recorded between prevalence rate values of females (5.14%) and males (2.05%), risk values of hydatid cysts infection were elevated significantly in females (2.448) compared to males (0.409). In conclusion, as the prevalence and risk of infection of hydatid cysts in cattle is higher than those in other animals, sheep might clearly have an important role to play in the continuation of the E. granulosus life cycle in study areas. Therefore the safe disposal of infected offal, especially of cattle and sheep, will significantly reduce the transmission of cysts from slaughterhouses to potential hosts in this region.