Assessment of the direct economic losses associated with hydatid disease (Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto) in beef cattle slaughtered at an Australian abattoir

Prevalence of cystic echinococcosis among livestock in pastoral and agro-pastoral areas in Uganda

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) remains a significant challenge in Uganda with precise status largely undocumented in most communities. To determine CE prevalence, post-mortem examination was done on 14 937 livestock (5873 goats, 1377 sheep, 3726 zebu cattle and 3054 Ankole cattle) slaughtered in abattoirs in the districts of Moroto in Karamoja region, Kumi in Teso region and Nakasongola and Luwero in Buganda region. The overall CE prevalence was 21.9% in sheep, 15.2% in zebu cattle, 5.5% in goats and 2.1% in Ankole cattle. Moroto district had a higher prevalence of CE than other districts with 31.3% in zebu cattle, sheep 28%, goats 29.1% and (0%) in Ankole cattle. On organ locations, the lungs were the most affected in all livestock in all the study areas. Considering cyst fertility, 33.9, 1.7 and 6.4% of Ankole cattle, sheep and zebu cattle respectively had fertile cysts in the liver while 4.5% of goats and 4% Ankole cattle had fertile cysts in the lungs. In conclusion, CE is widespread and occurs among cattle, sheep and goats in pastoral and agro-pastoral areas in Uganda. Therefore, there is an urgent need to create awareness among the communities on role of livestock in CE epidemiology and transmission.

The impact of echinococcosis interventions on economic outcomes in Qinghai Province of China: Evidence from county-level panel data

Introduction

Echinococcosis can incur substantial economic losses for the livestock industry by causing organ condemnation, delayed growth, and reduced meat and wool output and quality in sheep and cattle, as well as increased surgery costs, hospital care, and decreased productivity in humans. Yet echinococcosis could be prevented and controlled by interventions, such as dog management and deworming, lamb vaccination, slaughter management, and training and public education.

Methods

Exploiting temporal and spatial variations in the number of intervention measures implemented in 39 counties in Qinghai province of China in 2015-2020, this study assesses the economic impact of echinococcosis interventions using a dynamic difference-in-differences model.

Results

The results suggest that echinococcosis interventions brought about substantial economic gains measured by per capita net income of rural residents and per capita gross output of animal husbandry. These economic gains are greater in non-pastoral counties (with a gain in per capita net income of rural residents of 3,308 yuan and a gain per capita gross output of animal husbandry of 1,035 yuan) than in pastoral counties (with a gain in per capita net income of rural residents of 1,372 yuan and a gain per capita gross output of animal husbandry of 913 yuan). They are also greater in counties with echinococcosis infection level-2 (with a human infection rate of 0.1-1% or a dog infection rate of 1-5%) than infection level-1 counties (with a human prevalence rate ≥1% or a dog infection rate ≥5%).

Discussion

Not only will these economic gains encourage livestock farmers to strengthen their echinococcosis prevention and control practices, but they will also inform public policy on zoonotic disease prevention and control in China and other countries alike.

Determination of Factors Affecting Human Transmission of Echinococcus granulosus Parasite: A Case-control Study, Turkey

OBJECTIVE

Through this study we aimed to determine the risk factors affecting the transmission of Echinococcus granulosus to humans.

METHODS

This case-control study included a study group comprising of 107 people who underwent surgery for hydatid cyst and a control group comprising of 107 people. Place of living, age, and sex were taken as matching factors. A chi-square analysis was used for paired comparisons in the study. The variables that were significantly related in paired comparisons were included in the logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Hydatid cyst disease was seen 3.661 [confidence interval (CI) =1.650-8.123] times more often in individuals with an education period of 11 years or less compared to those with 12 years or above, 3.427 (CI=1.470-7.991) times more in those with a toilet outside the house compared to those with a toilet inside the house, and 5.540 (CI=2.088-14.697) times more in individuals who took a shower 8 times a month or less compared to those who take a shower 9 times or more.

CONCLUSION

Individuals with a low level of education and who do not pay attention to environmental and personal hygiene are at risk for hydatid cyst disease.

Evaluation of zoonotic platyhelminthe infections identified in slaughtered livestock in Iran, 2015-2019

Background

Platyhelminth infections of livestock can result in considerable economic losses. This study aims to evaluate the spatial frequency of cystic echinococcosis (CE), dicrocoeliasis, and fascioliasis in livestock slaughtered in Iran during the years 2015–2019 and estimate direct costs associated with organ condemnation due to these parasites.

Methods

Abattoir data from 413 abattoirs representing all 31 Iranian provinces were collected from the Iran Veterinary Organization. Infection prevalence was calculated per year at the province level. The Local Moran’s I statistic was performed to evaluate spatial autocorrelation of animals positive at slaughter for the years 2015–2019. Direct costs associated with condemned livers were calculated for each parasitic condition, with costs associated with condemned lungs also included for CE.

Results

Overall prevalence values for the study timeframe were as follows: sheep and goat fascioliasis 1.56% (95% CI: 1.56–1.56%), cattle fascioliasis 3.86% (95% CI: 3.85–3.88%), sheep and goat dicrocoeliasis 4.63% (95% CI: 4.62–4.63%), cattle dicrocoeliasis 3.08% (95% CI: 3.07–3.09%), sheep and goat CE 5.32% (95% CI: 5.32–5.33%), and cattle CE 7.26% (95% CI: 7.24–7.28%). Northwest Iran had the highest prevalence of CE and fascioliasis. High infection areas for Dicrocoelium spp. included the provinces of Zanjan, Gilan, Qazvin, and Tehran, which are located in northern Iran. Direct economic losses for sheep and goat fascioliasis, dicrocoeliasis, and CE for the study period were US$13,842,759, US$41,771,377, and US$22,801,054, respectively. Direct economic losses for cattle fascioliasis, dicrocoeliasis, and CE for the study period were US$1,989,200, US$1,668,986, and US$2,656,568, respectively.

Conclusion

Our findings provide valuable data for future monitoring of these important parasitic diseases in Iranian livestock. Disease control strategies are required to reduce the economic and public health impact of these platyhelminths.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12917-021-02888-9.