Prevalence, Risk Factors and Economic Impact of Camel Hydatidosis in North Darfur State, Sudan

Abstract

A cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted to estimate the prevalence, investigate risk factors of hydatidosis in camels slaughtered at Elfashir abattoir in North Darfur and the economic impact due to hydatidosis infection. Three hundreds and eighty seven camels were investigated for hydatidosis from November 2010 to February 2011 in the study area, 241 (62.3%) from northern El Fashir and 146 (37.7%) from western El Fashir. Two hundred and thirteen camels were found to be infected with hydatid cysts giving a prevalence rate of 55%, with an infected camels 128 (60%) from Northern El Fashir and 85 (40%) from western El Fashir.One hundred and twonty three (57.7%) camels were infected in the lung, 29 (13.6%) in the liver, 5 (2.3%) in the spleen, 38 (17.8%) in both organs the lung and the liver, 14 (6.6%) in the lung and spleen, 2 (1%) in the liver and spleen and 2 (1%) in three organs the lung, liver and spleen. Nine hundreds and sixty six hydatid cysts were encountered in examined animals. Organ distribution of hydatid cysts with single and multiple organs involved was, 460 (47.6%) were found in the lung, 53 (5.5%) X in the liver, 5 (0.5%) in the spleen, 348 (36%) in the lung and liver, 79 (8.2) in the lung and spleen, 9 (1%) in the liver and spleen and 12 (1.2%) in the lung, liver and spleen. No cysts were observed in the heart, kidney and in the mesentery. The hydatid cyst diameter ranged from 0.5 cm to 6.4 cm, while the cyst volume ranged from 1 ml to 87 ml, so the cyst size was categorized in to three categories: less than 10 ml (small), 10 to 20 ml (medium) and more than 20 ml (large). From 966 hydatid cysts observed, 239 (24.7%) were small cysts, 462 (47.8%) medium cysts and 265 (27.4%) large cysts. Out of nine hundreds and sixty six hydatid cysts observed, 408 (42.2%) hydatid cysts were viable, 197 (20.4%) were not viable, 157 (16.3%) were sterile and 204 (21.1%) were calcified. The classification of 966 hydatid cysts according to their fertility status shown that from, 183 (18.9%) in the liver, 100 (24.5%) were found to be viable, 28 (14.2%) not viable, 25 (15.9%) sterile and 30 (14.7%) were calcified. While from 751 (77.7%) cyst in the lung, 288 (70.6%) were viable, 162 (82.2%) were not, 129 (82.2%) were sterile and 172 (84.3%) were calcified. Also, from 32 (3.3%) in the spleen, 20 (5%) were viable, 7 (3.6%) were not, 3 (1.9%) were sterile and 2 (1%) were calcified. The risk factors like age and other diseases were found significantly associated with hydatidosis with a p-value of 0.002 and 0.001 respectively. The rest of the potential risk factors (sex, body condition, origin and colour) investigated were not found to be significantly associated with hydatidosis. XI In economic losses, the cost of condemned organs due to hydatid cyst infection in this study was 12020 SDP (4451.9 USD). The total annual economic loss incurred due to hydatidosis in camels slaughtered at North Darfur abattoir was estimated to 36060 SDP (13355.6 USD). The losses from additional production factors (decreased carcass weight and decreased milk production) were taken into account; the lowest carcass weight was 214 kilo while highest carcass weight was 357 kilo.