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Cystic echinococcosis in slaughtered domestic ruminants from Tunisia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 September 2012

S. Lahmar ,
M. Trifi ,
S. Ben Naceur ,
T. Bouchhima ,
N. Lahouar ,
I. Lamouchi ,
N. Maâmouri ,
R. Selmi ,
M. Dhibi  and
P.R. Torgerson
S. Lahmar*
Affiliation:
Parasitology Laboratory, National School of Veterinary Medicine, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
M. Trifi
Affiliation:
Mateur Abattoir, Ministry of Interieur, Tunisia
S. Ben Naceur
Affiliation:
Parasitology Laboratory, National School of Veterinary Medicine, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
T. Bouchhima
Affiliation:
Parasitology Laboratory, National School of Veterinary Medicine, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
N. Lahouar
Affiliation:
Parasitology Laboratory, National School of Veterinary Medicine, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
I. Lamouchi
Affiliation:
Parasitology Laboratory, National School of Veterinary Medicine, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
N. Maâmouri
Affiliation:
Parasitology Laboratory, National School of Veterinary Medicine, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
R. Selmi
Affiliation:
Parasitology Laboratory, National School of Veterinary Medicine, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
M. Dhibi
Affiliation:
Parasitology Laboratory, National School of Veterinary Medicine, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
P.R. Torgerson
Affiliation:
Section of Veterinary Epidemiology, University of Zurich, Switzerland
*
* E-mail: drlsamia@yahoo.fr
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Abstract

A total of 10,818 domestic ruminants (3913 cattle, 2722 sheep, 3779 goats, 404 dromedaries) slaughtered in various abattoirs in Tunisia between 2003 and 2010 were examined for the presence of Echinococcus granulosus hydatid cysts. The prevalence of cystic echinococcosis (CE) was 16.42% in sheep, 8.56% in cattle, 5.94% in dromedaries and 2.88% in goats. CE prevalence increased with age according to an asymptotic model and there was evidence of variation in infection pressure depending on the region of Tunisia where the animals were slaughtered. Cattle appeared to have the highest infection pressure of the species examined. The mean intensity of hepatic cysts was higher than that of pulmonary cysts in all species. The highest mean intensity of infection with E. granulosus larvae was observed in cattle (18.14) followed by sheep (9.58), goats (2.31) and dromedaries (2.12). The abundance of infection increased in a linear fashion with age in all animal species. Cyst abundance varied with species of animal and district of Tunisia. Cysts from dromedaries were more fertile (44.44%) than those from sheep (30.25%), goats (30.32%) and cattle (0.95%). The viability of the protoscoleces from fertile cysts from cattle (78.45%) was higher than those from sheep (70.71%) and camels (69.57%). The lowest protoscolex viability was recorded for hydatid cysts from goats (20.21%). This epidemiological study confirms the importance of CE in all domestic ruminant species, particularly in sheep, throughout Tunisia and emphasizes the need to interrupt parasite transmission by preventive integrated approaches in a CE control programme.

Type
Research Papers
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 87 , Issue 3 , September 2013 , pp. 318 - 325
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012 

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