Abstract
Hydatidosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus, hydatidosis an important helminthzoonosis affecting sheep in the world. Hydatidosis is a wellknown disease in third world countries, especially in rural communities where humans live in close contact with domestic animals and dogs. Dogs act as intermediate hosts. The Al Taif city is about 90 kilometers away from mecca the holy city. In each year, millions of sheep and goats are slaughtered during the pilgrimage season. It is very important to assess the prevalence of hydatidosis since it can be transmitted through dogs which act as definitive hosts for the parasite. This study aims to determine the prevalence of hydatidosis and the fertility/sterility rates of hydatid cysts in sheep and goats slaughtered in Taif Abattoir, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In this study, 1098 sheep and 296 goats were examined; 162 (13.5%) sheep and 18 (6.1%) goats were found harboring hydatid cysts. In goats 6% were harboring hydaated cyst, and 76% of the goat were of local origin. Differences in prevalence rates were highly significant (p
Highlights
Hydatidosis is an important economic and zoonotic disease, caused by metacestode of adult worms of the genus Echinococcus
The distribution and number of organs infected with hydatid cysts in sheep and goats were described (Tables 2 and 3)
The distribution of hydatid cysts between organs of infected animals was significantly different in sheep (p < 0.001) and goats (p < 0.001)
Summary
Hydatidosis is an important economic and zoonotic disease, caused by metacestode of adult worms of the genus Echinococcus. It commonly develops in dogs, several other carnivores can act as definitive hosts [1,2]. Canines especially dogs are the definitive hosts for the parasite, and livestock are the intermediate host. Man is considered to be an aberrant intermediate of the host. This disease results in the development of hydated cyst in lung, liver or other organs. The disease has an important public health issue among populations that breed sheep all over the world [3]
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