Cystic echinococcosis in slaughtered domestic ruminants from Tunisia

Abstract

A total of 10,818 domestic ruminants (3913 cattle, 2722 sheep, 3779 goats, 404 dromedaries) slaughtered in various abattoirs in Tunisia between 2003 and 2010 were examined for the presence of Echinococcus granulosus hydatid cysts. The prevalence of cystic echinococcosis (CE) was 16.42% in sheep, 8.56% in cattle, 5.94% in dromedaries and 2.88% in goats. CE prevalence increased with age according to an asymptotic model and there was evidence of variation in infection pressure depending on the region of Tunisia where the animals were slaughtered. Cattle appeared to have the highest infection pressure of the species examined. The mean intensity of hepatic cysts was higher than that of pulmonary cysts in all species. The highest mean intensity of infection with E. granulosus larvae was observed in cattle (18.14) followed by sheep (9.58), goats (2.31) and dromedaries (2.12). The abundance of infection increased in a linear fashion with age in all animal species. Cyst abundance varied with species of animal and district of Tunisia. Cysts from dromedaries were more fertile (44.44%) than those from sheep (30.25%), goats (30.32%) and cattle (0.95%). The viability of the protoscoleces from fertile cysts from cattle (78.45%) was higher than those from sheep (70.71%) and camels (69.57%). The lowest protoscolex viability was recorded for hydatid cysts from goats (20.21%). This epidemiological study confirms the importance of CE in all domestic ruminant species, particularly in sheep, throughout Tunisia and emphasizes the need to interrupt parasite transmission by preventive integrated approaches in a CE control programme. The prevalence of cystic echinococcosis (CE) was 16.42% in sheep, 8.56% in cattle, 5.94% in dromedaries and 2.88% in goats. CE prevalence increased with age according to an asymptotic model and there was evidence of variation in infection pressure depending on the region of Tunisia where the animals were slaughtered. Cattle appeared to have the highest infection pressure of the species examined. The mean intensity of hepatic cysts was higher than that of pulmonary cysts in all species. The highest mean intensity of infection with E. granulosus larvae was observed in cattle (18.14) followed by sheep (9.58), goats (2.31) and dromedaries (2.12). The abundance of infection increased in a linear fashion with age in all animal species. Cyst abundance varied with species of animal and district of Tunisia. Cysts from dromedaries were more fertile (44.44%) than those from sheep (30.25%), goats (30.32%) and cattle (0.95%). The viability of the protoscoleces from fertile cysts from cattle (78.45%) was higher than those from sheep (70.71%) and camels (69.57%). The lowest protoscolex viability was recorded for hydatid cysts from goats (20.21%). This epidemiological study confirms the importance of CE in all domestic ruminant species, particularly in sheep, throughout Tunisia and emphasizes the need to interrupt parasite transmission by preventive integrated approaches in a CE control programme.

A Survey of Nematode Parasites of Small Mammals in Tunisia, North Africa: Diversity of Species and Zoonotic Implications

“…In Tunisia, previous studies investigating the zoonotic parasites of small mammals were focused mainly on those that cause diseases, such as leishmaniasis and echinococcosis, known to impact humans (Ghawar et al, 2011;Toumi at al., 2012;Lahmar et al, 2013). Moreover, most of the available studies on helminths in this area are relatively old, are mainly related to taxonomy or life cycle studies (Bernard, 1969(Bernard, , 1987Bernard and Ben Rachid, 1969;Quentin, 1978), or have focused on a single host species and/or single parasite species (FichetCalvet et al, 2003;Faleh et al, 2012).…”

Global Distribution of Alveolar and Cystic Echinococcosis

“…In Tunisia, Echinococcus infections are widespread in dogs (prevalence above 20%) and domestic ruminants, with prevalence levels of 16.4; 8.56; 2.8; 5.9; 8.4% reported in sheep, cattle, goats, camels and equines, respectively [ Fig. 12 and Table S11 and S12 of the Supplementary Material] (Lahmar et al, 2013. The rural domestic cycle is primarily maintained by sheep and cattle intermediate hosts in north and central regions and by camels in the south.…”

A survey study on the helminth parasites of two wild jirds,Meriones shawiandM. libycus(Rodentia: Gerbillinae), in Tunisian desert areas

“…Furthermore, like many rodent species, acting as reservoirs and spreaders of zoonoses, is a major concern, and the study of parasites of wide geographic areas has medical and veterinary importance to prevent transmission of diseases to human and domestic animals. Many studies have reported the important role of these two Meriones species in cutaneous leishmaniasis (Ben Ismail et al 1987;Rassi et al 2006;Ghawar et al 2011;Derbali et al 2012;Lahmar et al 2013;Mirzaei et al 2013;Aoun & Bouratbine 2014). However, little is known about the diversity of their internal parasites, and more information on the diversity and distribution of helminths is necessary.…”