Prevalence of Hydatid Disease in Cattle and Camel Slaughtered at Damaturu Abattoir, Nigeria

A prevalence study of hydatidosis among cattle and came slaughtered at Damaturu abattoir, Yobe State, Nigeria, from 2003 to 2006 was conducted using slaughter records and post-mortem inspection of organs. Out of 8, 592 cattle and camel inspected, 0.6% was positive with specific prevalence of 0.4% in cattle and 6.3% in camel. There was no significant difference in the prevalence (p>0.05) of the disease among the years and also among the sex of the species studied. The Male cattle had a prevalence of 0.1% and female 1.1% while male camel had 1.5% and female 12.6%. No significant difference (p>0.05) was observed between the organs inspected including the lungs (0.15%) the liver (0.06%) and the spleen (0.05%). It was concluded that the prevalence of the disease is low in cattle and camel slaughtered at the abattoir. Strategic deworming of the ruminants and dogs with antihelmintics and proper meat inspection with incineration of affected organs may help to control the disease.Keywords: Hydatid disease, prevalence, abattoir, ruminant