Abstract
BackgroundPlatyhelminth infections of livestock can result in considerable economic losses. This study aims to evaluate the spatial frequency of cystic echinococcosis (CE), dicrocoeliasis, and fascioliasis in livestock slaughtered in Iran during the years 2015–2019 and estimate direct costs associated with organ condemnation due to these parasites.MethodsAbattoir data from 413 abattoirs representing all 31 Iranian provinces were collected from the Iran Veterinary Organization. Infection prevalence was calculated per year at the province level. The Local Moran’s I statistic was performed to evaluate spatial autocorrelation of animals positive at slaughter for the years 2015–2019. Direct costs associated with condemned livers were calculated for each parasitic condition, with costs associated with condemned lungs also included for CE.ResultsOverall prevalence values for the study timeframe were as follows: sheep and goat fascioliasis 1.56% (95% CI: 1.56–1.56%), cattle fascioliasis 3.86% (95% CI: 3.85–3.88%), sheep and goat dicrocoeliasis 4.63% (95% CI: 4.62–4.63%), cattle dicrocoeliasis 3.08% (95% CI: 3.07–3.09%), sheep and goat CE 5.32% (95% CI: 5.32–5.33%), and cattle CE 7.26% (95% CI: 7.24–7.28%). Northwest Iran had the highest prevalence of CE and fascioliasis. High infection areas for Dicrocoelium spp. included the provinces of Zanjan, Gilan, Qazvin, and Tehran, which are located in northern Iran. Direct economic losses for sheep and goat fascioliasis, dicrocoeliasis, and CE for the study period were US$13,842,759, US$41,771,377, and US$22,801,054, respectively. Direct economic losses for cattle fascioliasis, dicrocoeliasis, and CE for the study period were US$1,989,200, US$1,668,986, and US$2,656,568, respectively.ConclusionOur findings provide valuable data for future monitoring of these important parasitic diseases in Iranian livestock. Disease control strategies are required to reduce the economic and public health impact of these platyhelminths.
Highlights
Platyhelminth infections of livestock can result in considerable economic losses
Parasite infection prevalence In total, 3.86% of slaughtered cattle and 1.56% of slaughtered sheep and goats where infected with Fasciola spp. from 2015 to 2019
Annual prevalence of cattle fascioliasis ranged from 3.2% in 2019 to 3.9% in 2015, while the annual prevalence of sheep and goat fascioliasis ranged from 1.2% in 2015 to 1.6% in 2019 (Fig. 2)
Summary
Platyhelminth infections of livestock can result in considerable economic losses. This study aims to evaluate the spatial frequency of cystic echinococcosis (CE), dicrocoeliasis, and fascioliasis in livestock slaughtered in Iran during the years 2015–2019 and estimate direct costs associated with organ condemnation due to these parasites. Helminth infections are common in livestock and can result in economic losses to the livestock industry [2, 3]. Fascioliasis and dicrocoeliasis are two of the most common zoonotic helminth diseases of domestic livestock and both are included on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) list of important human foodborne infections [7, 8]. These trematodes are found in the gallbladder and bile ducts of ruminants such as sheep, cattle, and goats [9]. In northern Iran, a large outbreak of human fascioliasis occurred in 1989, infecting approximately 10,000 individuals in Gilan Province. In 2000, there were a reported 1306 cases of human fascioliasis in the province of Gilan [13]
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