Estimated annual economic loss from organ condemnation, decreased carcass weight and milk yield due to bovine hydatidosis (Echinococcus granulosus, Batsch, 1786) in Ethiopia

Post-slaughter survey data collected over a period of 15 years (1985-1999) by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FVM), Addis Ababa University (AAU) were used as a basis for the analysis of estimation of the economic significance of bovine hydatidosis in Ethiopia. The analysis output revealed a 35.15% mean annual prevalence of bovine hydatidosis. The total estimated economic loss from organ condemnation, carcass weight and milk yield decrease amounts to 1,691,266,200 ETB (101,203,734 USD). This is equivalent to a loss of 475.40 ETB (28.45 USD) per every infected slaughtered cattle and 249.00 ETB (14.90 USD) per every infected milking cow. The results of the present study showed that hydatidosis is a highly prevalent cattle disease in Ethiopia with  considerable direct and indirect economic losses. The magnitude of loss per infected subject warrants the need to mount an integrated nation-wide hydatidosis control program involving public education, canine health care, proper handling and disposal of infected organs, stray dog population management and institution of strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) in slaughterhouses and public health legislative reinforcements. The authors recommend that hydatidosis control program should be designed and implemented in the context on ‘One Health’ initiative by integrating it with other zoonotic disease control program and in partnerships with animal and public health actors as well as other relevant stakeholders

Infection prevalence of hydatidosis (Echinococcus granulosus, Batsch, 1786) in domestic animals in Ethiopia: A synthesis report of previous surveys

Hydatidosis/echinococcosis (Echinococcus granulosus, Batsch, 1786) is considered to be a serious problem for both public health and the livestock economy in Ethiopia. The present paper reviews and summarizes available data on the disease. Abattoir survey data collected over a period of 15 years (1985-1999) were analyzed to assess the infection prevalence of hydatidosis in domestic animals in three different agroecological zones of Ethiopia. Accordingly, 8036/22,863 (35.15%) cattle, 768/6518 (11.78%) sheep, 36/1753 (4.9%) goats, 70/417 (16.79%) camels and 0/150 (0%) pigs slaughtered in 21 different abattoirs located in various parts of the country were found harbouring hydatid cysts. A statistical discernible significant difference (

A systematic review of the epidemiology of echinococcosis in domestic and wild animals

Human echinococcosis is a neglected zoonosis caused by parasites of the genus Echinococcus. The most frequent clinical forms of echinococcosis, cystic echinococcosis (CE) and alveolar echinococcosis (AE), are responsible for a substantial health and economic burden, particularly to low-income societies. Quantitative epidemiology can provide important information to improve the understanding of parasite transmission and hence is an important part of efforts to control this disease. The purpose of this review is to give an insight on factors associated with echinococcosis in animal hosts by summarising significant results reported from epidemiological studies identified through a systematic search.The systematic search was conducted mainly in electronic databases but a few additional records were obtained from other sources. Retrieved entries were examined in order to identify available peer-reviewed epidemiological studies that found significant risk factors for infection using associative statistical methods. One hundred studies met the eligibility criteria and were suitable for data extraction. Epidemiological factors associated with increased risk of E. granulosus infection in dogs included feeding with raw viscera, possibility of scavenging dead animals, lack of anthelmintic treatment and owners' poor health education and indicators of poverty. Key factors associated with E. granulosus infection in intermediate hosts were related to the hosts' age and the intensity of environmental contamination with parasite eggs. E. multilocularis transmission dynamics in animal hosts depended on the interaction of several ecological factors, such as hosts' population densities, host-prey interactions, landscape characteristics, climate conditions and human-related activities.Results derived from epidemiological studies provide a better understanding of the behavioural, biological and ecological factors involved in the transmission of this parasite and hence can aid in the design of more effective control strategies