Present status of hydatidosis in slaughtered animals in Kano City abattoir north-western Nigeria

Livestock animals provide meat, milk and hides in all part of the world which play an important role in improving the national economy of Nigeria. Hydatidosis a parasitic diseases caused by Echinococcus granulosus tapeworm lead to economic losses due to condemnation of affected carcasses and the necessity to freeze or boil infected meat of these animals. The present study aimed to find the prevalence of hydatidosis in slaughtered animals in Kano city abattoir located in Fagge Local Government Area (LGA). Routine meat inspection of various organs and tissues of 3,449 animals comprising of 1,368 sheep, 1,132 goats and 949 camels showed that 9.68% were infected with hydatid disease. The prevalence of infection with hydatid cysts in camel (14.12%) was higher than that of goat (8.03%) and sheep (7.97%). Of the 2233 males of all the animals examined, 182(8.15%) were infected with hydatid cysts while 152(10.39%) of the 1465 female animals investigated were infected. In all the goat and sheep breeds examined, Yankasa had the highest infection rate. The statistical analysis results obtained revealed significant difference between season, sex and breed in terms of infection (P>0.05) as all their P values are less < 0.0001. During the study period 10.45%, 2.99% and 0.75% of lungs, liver and spleen of the slaughtered animals were condemned due to infection with hydatid cysts. Seasonal occurrence of the cysts in the animals revealed a rise of infection during the dry season. Therefore, there is a need to find ways of limiting or eradicating this parasitic disease.Keywords: Prevalence, Hydatidosis, Hydatid cyst, Camel, Goat, Sheep, Kan