Incidence of Hydatid cyst disease in food animals slaughtered at Sokoto Central Abattoir , Sokoto State , Nigeria

An abattoir based study was conducted to determine the incidence of hydatid cyst disease in cattle, camel, sheep and goats, over a one year period (Oct 2003Sept 2004). Forty six thousand two hundred and twenty three (46223) cattle; 3545 camel; 16345 sheep and 14134 goats were examined at post mortem for evidence of hydatid cyst lesions. Incidences of 34 (0.07%), 318 (8.97%), 23 (0.14%) and 4 (0.03%) were found for cattle, camel, sheep and goats, respectively. Locations of the cyst lesions in the examined animals shows liver was the most predominant site in cattle 21(61.76%), sheep 18(78.26%) and goats 3(75.0%). For camels, lungs showed the most number of CE lesions 291(91.51%). Overall, the least number of hydatid cyst lesions were observed in the heart. There was significant association (p < 0.001) between the species of animals and infection. The public health importance of the disease and the findings were discussed.


Introduction
Echinococcus vogeli and Echinococcus oligarthrus (which cause polycystic echinococcosis).Two new Cystic echinococcosis, CE (also called species have recently been identified: Echinococcus Hydatidosis) is a widespread zoonosis infecting a shiquicus in small mammals from the Tibetan plateau large number of wild and domestic animals and and Echinococcus felidis in African lions, but their humans.The agent of this disease is a tapeworm zoonotic transmission potential is unknown.Several (Echinococcus granulosus) from dogs and other studies have shown that these diseases are an canidae whose larval stage develops as a liquid tumor, increasing public health concern and that they can be called a hydatid cyst (Bouree, 2001).Echinococcosis regarded as emerging or re-emerging diseases.(Hydatidosis) is one of the most important of the forty In sub-Saharan Africa, various studies have or so canine-associated zoonoses (Cook, 1989) and shown that the disease is highly endemic (Daniel among the most geographically widespread of the 1995; Bouree, 2001;Dalimi et al., 2002), where E. pathogenic parasitic zoonoses (Schantz, 1991).The granulosus is perpetuated predominantly by domestic causative parasite is distributed world-wide ( The study was conducted in Sokoto 4(17.39%),spleen 1(4.35%) and heart 0(0%).For state, Nigeria.Sokoto state is located between goats: liver had a prevalence of 3(75.0%),lungs 0 0 0 1(25%), spleen 0(0%) and the heart 0(0%), ( cattle, sheep and goats shows liver to be the most The Sokoto metropolitan abattoir is a predominant site in these animal species with cattle slaughterhouse that serves Sokoto town and neighbouring having 21(61.76%),sheep 18(78.26%)and goats villages with meats.During post mortem examination, 3(75%).In the camels, however, lesions were seen cystic lesions suspected to be larval forms of E. more on lungs examined 291(91.51%).For all species granulosus were identified and excised.The species of of animals studied, least number of hearts was infected the animals and organ location of the cysts were with the cyst.recorded.Total numbers of animals (cattle, camel, sheep and goats) slaughtered on the days of collection

were recorded. Examination and sample collection
Hydatid cyst disease is an important medical and were done for a period of one year (November 2003 to veterinary problem in the world.It is a condition of October 2004).Visits were, on the average, 2 weeks livestock and humans that arises from eating infective (14 days) in a month.Identification of the viable eggs of the cestode Echinococcus granulosus.Domestic metacestodes was carried out by adding a drop of 0.1% intermediate hosts (cattle, camel, sheep, goats and aqueous eosin solution to equal volume of protoscoleces buffaloes) are major reservoirs for the disease in in hydatid cyst fluid on a microscope slide on the humans.principle that viable protoscoleces completely or In this study, CE lesions of 8.97% in camels partially exclude the dye, while the dead ones take it up represented the highest.This is in agreement with (Smyth and Barrett, 1980;Macpherson, 1985).Cyst similar studies in camels by Ajogi et al. (1995), where materials were labelled against the species of animal he advanced, among other reasons, that the one collected from as well as the organ on which it was humped camel (Camelus dromedarius), the breed found.Only metacestodes with viable protoscoleces exclusively found in Nigeria is known to be versatile were recorded and used in the investigations.and opportunistic feeder on coarse and bulky perennial

Results
grasses.They are also efficient harvesters of small annual grasses growing on clays in seasonally flooded Forty six thousand two hundred and twenty three areas (Schwartz and Dioli, 1992).This is followed by (46223) cattle, 3545 camel, 16345 sheep and 14134 sheep (0.14%) and cattle (0.07%).The least infection goats were examined during one year period was seen in goats (0.03%).This indicates the (November 2003 to October 2004) for CE lesions significance of these species of food animal in the (Table 1).Incidences of 0.07% (34/46223), 8.97%There was significant association (p < 0.001) between the species of animals and infection.
(Torgerson et al., 2001)value of the There are no reliable methods for the routine diagnosis fleece from infected sheep may also occur.These of the infection in living animals, but in rare cases losses are of special significance in countries of low cysts have been identified by ultrasonography alone or economic output where sheep production is of in conjunction with serum antibody detection (Eckert, particular importance(Torgerson et al., 2001).

Table 2 )
. longitude 11 30 to 13 -50 East and latitude 40 to 6 40 North.The State shares common borders with Niger Republic to the North, Kebbi State to the South, and Location of hydatid cyst lesions in the liver of Zamfara State to the East.