Cystic echinococcosis: an emerging zoonosis in southern regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

Background Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is one of the principal causes of economic loss to the livestock industry because of its morbidity and mortality of food-producing animals and condemnation of important visceral organs. Pakistan being an agricultural country having an extensive livestock sector, is mostly practiced by poor people, which has a fundamental role in the economy. The present study was aimed to conduct a cross-sectional survey and PCR based confirmation of Echinococcus granulosus in sheep, goats, cows, and buffaloes from southern regions (three districts: Lakki Marwat, Bannu, and Karak) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. During the study, a total of 2833 animals were examined randomly including; sheep (n = 529), goats (n = 428), cows (n = 1693), and buffaloes (n = 183). Hydatid cysts were collected and examined for the presence of protoscoleces using microscopy. Detection of DNA was performed by using PCR and two mitochondrial genetic markers namely; NAD-1 and COX-1 were amplified. Results The overall prevalence of CE was found to be (9%) among the examined animals. The hydatid cyst infection was highly prevalent in buffaloes (12%), followed by sheep (10%), cows (9%), and goats (5.1%). Cystic echinococcosis was more prevalent (10%; 96/992) in district Lakki Marwat followed by district Bannu (9%; 112/1246) and Karak (7%; 39/595). Female animals were more likely to be infected with CE (11.6%) than male animals (5.3%) (p = 0.001). Similarly, the infection was higher in the older group of animals as compared to younger (p = 0.001). Mostly (52.2%; n = 129) of hydatid cysts were found in the liver, while (64.4%; n = 159) cysts of the infected animals were infertile. PCR based identification confirmed the presence of E. granulosus sensu stricto (s.s) in the study area. Conclusion Cystic echinococcosis was found to be highly prevalent in southern regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and could be a potential threat to human health. Moreover, molecular sequencing and phylogenetic analyses should be carried out in future to identify the prevailing genotype (s) of E. granulosus s.s.

Cystic Echinococcosis in Slaughtered Cattle and Sheep from North Macedonia

“…Post-mortem inspection of the internal organs in the slaughterhouses showed that the lungs and the liver were highly infected and more susceptible to echinococcosis. These findings were also demonstrated by Joanny et al (27), Khan et al (28), El-Dakhly et al (29) and Kere et al (30). The presence of a high number of cysts in the lungs and the liver may be due to specific intensive blood supply from the portal veins and hepatic arteries of the liver and soft consistency of the lung tissue that allows easy development of the cyst (10).…”

Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Cystic Echinococcosis in Livestock Population of the Malakand Division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

“…The reported prevalence is quietly high in different regions of Punjab such as 31.05 ( 39 ), 33.0, ( 30 , 31 ), 60.6 ( 40 ), 35.0 ( 12 ), and 6.67% ( 15 ). However, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province the reported prevalence was 14.57 ( 9 ) and 9.0% ( 25 ) in slaughtered animals. The prevalence of 17.0% was recorded in the current study in livestock population of the Malakand division.…”

“…Cystic echinococcosis is a parasitic infection with a worldwide distribution, producing substantial health and monetary losses ( 29 ). CE has been merely reported in Pakistani slaughtered animals, and only a few reports are available ( 9 , 12 , 14 , 15 , 17 , 25 , 30 – 33 ). The reported prevalence in slaughtered animals from India, Italy, Ethiopia, China, and Iran was 0.58 ( 34 ), 10.6 ( 35 ), 31.4 ( 36 ), 11.84 ( 37 ), and 10.7% ( 38 ), respectively.…”

“…Special attention was paid to the liver and lungs, although other organs were also studied/checked carefully. The animal was defined as positive if one or more cysts were found and as negative if no cyst was found ( 25 ). Hydatid cyst samples were collected under aseptic conditions from the slaughtered animals.…”

Epidemiological, Morphometric, and Molecular Investigation of Cystic Echinococcosis in Camel and Cattle From Upper Egypt: Current Status and Zoonotic Implications

“…Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a parasitic zoonotic disease with a worldwide distribution, particularly in developing countries ( 1 – 4 ). This disease is caused by a tapeworm of the species Echinococcus granulosus (EG) complex that has several distinct genotypes ( 5 ).…”