Prevalence of Hydatid Cysts in Liver and Lungs of Cattle Slaughtered in Selected Abattoirs in Northern Nigeria

ABSTRACT 

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and fertility of Hydatid cysts of Echinococcus granulosus in Cattle slaughtered in selected abattoirs in Northern Nigeria and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from February to December, 2022. Gross examination was carried out by visual inspection and palpation of lungs and liver of 1,881 Cattle in order to determine the availability and organ localization of hydatid cysts. A total of 95(5.1%) of the study population harboured one or more cysts in liver and lungs. Highest prevalence was recorded in cattle slaughtered in Gombe State (10.9%) followed by Kaduna (6.2%) the least was in Kogi State (1.9%). The difference of prevalence among the states was statistically significant (p0.05); female cattle were more likely to harbour the cysts (OR=1.433) than the males. In all the study locations, females recorded higher prevalence than males; Gombe State had highest number of infected female cattle (11.8%) as compared to the males (6.2%) followed by Kaduna State (6.8%) while the state with least number of infected females was Kogi (2.6%). The difference in prevalence of hydatid cysts in male and female cattle slaughtered in each state was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The female cattle slaughtered in Gombe (OR=2.015), FCT (OR=1.000) and Kaduna (OR=1.198) were more likely to harbour the cysts than the males but none of these associations to the female sex was significant. A total of 116 hydatid cysts were recovered from Liver and lungs comprising of 97(5.2%) calcified and 19(1.0%) fertile cysts. Highest number of fertile cysts were recovered from liver 13(0.8%) and lowest from lungs 6(0.3%). The liver 82(4.4%) was most commonly infected with cysts than the lungs 34(1.8%). On the overall, prevalence of fertile cysts was associated with the liver (OR=2.186) but the association was not significant (95% CL= 0.827- 5.778). The present study has revealed that some cattle in Northern Nigeria harbour fertile hydatid cysts that maintain active transmission of hydatidosis in the area thereby posing significant public health problem in livestock. 

Keywords: Prevalence, Hydatid cysts, Cattle, Abattoir, Northern Nigeria