Cystic Echinococcosis in Slaughtered Animals in Libya: A Review

Unilocular Cystic Echinococcosis (CE), in livestock is caused by the larval cystic stage of Echinococcus granulosus. Hydatid cysts in domestic animals lead to protein and economic losses, because of the condemnation of slaughtered animals infected viscera as well as reducing the quality and quantity of the livestock other productions such as milk, wool and meat. In Libya, hydatid disease infects a wide range of domestic animals (sheep, goats, cattle and camels) act as intermediate hosts E. granulosus. Prevalence of cystic hydatidosis based on available abattoirs data in livestock is hyper endemic in Libya and infection rates in all domestic slaughtered animals reached almost 50%. Many abattoir investigations in Libya have revealed that hydatid cyst is a disease, which infect a wide range of animal species with variable rates of infection, for example, sheep (1.6 to 40%), goats (5.6 to 70%), cattle (2.7 to 56%) and camels (2.7 to 48%) in different cities of Libya. Population of stray dogs and its worm burden infection of E. granulosus, socio-economic development, socio- economic agricultural practices, common traditional animal husbandry practices and the practices of slaughtering of domesticated animals continued the transmission of cystic hydatidosis in the various cities of Libya. Importance of echinococcosis given on human health and domestic animals industry, it is necessary to implement monitoring and control measures in this regard in Libya. This requires public health education and awareness about the dangers of the disease and its transmission and preventive routes, education on the appropriate ways of washing and disinfecting of vegetables and fruits, education on the correct ways of animal slaughtering, prevention on feeding dogs by viscera of home-slaughtered animals, prevention on direct contact by dogs faeces, enforce legislation on meat inspection and improve veterinary services in both government as well as private abattoirs in Libya.

Cryopreservation of Echinococcus granulosus Protoscoleces

Background: The main objective of the current study was to investigate on the cryopreservation of protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus, a causative agent of cystic hydatidosis in man. Methods: This study was conducted on isolated protoscoleces from hydatid cysts infected livers collected from slaughterhouse of Tehran, Iran in 2016. Viability of protoscoleces was evaluated by dye test. Cryopreservation of isolated protoscoleces in the presence of Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and glycerol using a three-step cooling protocol involving an initial period at -20 °C, -80 °C and liquid nitrogen was performed. Results: The mean viability rate of 10% DMSO and 15% glycerol were 9% and 8% respectively. The protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus have been successfully thawed and recovered after 6 months storage in liquid nitrogen. Conclusion: Cryopreservation method needs to be improved for each species of helminthes and can be useful for other immunological and laboratorial studies.

PROSPECTS FOR ANIMAL VACCINATION IN ECHINOCOCCOSIS

Echinococcosis is one of the most dangerous invasive diseases of animals and humans, that causes significant social and economic damage. Due to the localization of cysts, cystic hydatidosis is extremely difficult to treat, and it is not uncommon that surgical intervention is the only possible means. At the same time, cystic echinococcosis is a very common parasitic disease of sheep, goats, cattle, and even horses and is usually registered quite widely in regions traditionally engaged in breeding of these animal species. The work provides information on the spread of cystic echinococcosis in the Russian Federation and the main factors that cause the pathogen to circulate under agricultural conditions. Joint trends in the development of protective drugs, diagnostic test systems and chemotherapeutic drugs for this invasion, as well as technological problems that arise when creating vaccines, are analyzed. Given the current state in addressing the issue of mass vaccination of animals, a list of organizational, economic, medical, preventive and informational measures aimed at providing effective antiparasitic drugs and control methods is provided.

Echinococcosis in Kurdistan Iraq: Prevalence of Cystic Hydatidosis in Man with a Survey of E.granulosus eggs in Stray Dogs in Kalar City, Sulaymania Province, Kurdistan- Iraq.

The current study included two levels: - cystic echinococcosis in man and a survey of eggs of the parasites E. granulosus in feces of stray dogs in Kalar city sulaymania province. The statically analysis of private and governmental hospitals documents showed 56 cases of cystic echinococcosis have been treated surgically during five years’ period (2013-2017). The patients who included in this study were examined by physicians and confirmed by one or more of the following methods, imaging diagnosis (CT scan, Ultrasound, and X ray), histopathology and serology. Among total of 3330 patients admitted to the surgery department of these hospitals, 56 (1, 6%) were found to be infected with cystic hydatidosis at approximately 5.6 cases per 100,000 persons and at average 11.2 cases per one year. Among total patients’ involvements, house wives 22 (39.28%) were high infected and then followed by the workers and students 12(21.4%) and 11(19.64%) respectively. According to the organs patients involvement liver was highly infected 31(55.3%) and then followed by lungs 9(16.07). The age group (41-50) yrs. was 13(23.21%) highly infected than other ages, and the females (53.57%) were high infected than males (46.4%) among total patients infected. The economic loses of 56 cases treated surgically was approximately 112000$ USA$. This study is the first time talking about economic losses in this city of Iraq. The result of 60 sample feces examination of stray dogs showed that 36.6% of which were contaminated with eggs of E. granulosus. The high percentage of infection with this parasite (60%), was found at the Slaughtered animal's area, south of city center and the lowest (10%) was at Awarakan, Jutyaran & sharawan2 area, north of city center.

Contribution of livestock marketing chains and role played by stakeholders’ knowledge, attitude and practice in spreading cystic hydatidosis to Busia Town, Kenya, 2018

BackgroundCystic hydatidosis (CH), a neglected parasitic zoonosis, is endemic in many parts of Kenya and could be spread along livestock marketing chains. Poor knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) enables this spread in remote areas with inadequate public health services. We estimated prevalence, identified possible origin of CH to Busia, Kenya and assessed KAP among cattle owners and abattoir workers.Methods and Principal FindingsWe conducted a cross-sectional study on slaughtered livestock and interviewed their owners and abattoir workers in Busia in May–June 2018. We used visual observation, palpation and incision to identify cysts. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for confirmatory diagnosis. Epi Info 7 was used to calculate descriptive and associative statistics. Of 302 carcasses inspected, cysts were visualized in nine (2.98%, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.46–5.78). Fourteen samples were collected and 13 (92.86%) were positive on PCR (sensitivity=92%, specificity=95%). All carcasses with cysts were from West Pokot County, which borders Busia to the north. We interviewed 310 participants: 260 were males (83.87%, 95% CI: 79.19 – 87.69); median age was 41 years (range=21-69). Dogs were kept by 221 (71.99%, 95% CI: 66.55 – 76.87), of which 83 (37.56%, 95% CI: 28.33 – 48.52) improperly disposed of dog faeces. Home slaughtering was practiced by 196 (63.23%, 95% CI: 58.78-69.80), of which 115 (58.67%, 95% CI: 51.44-65.64) were not inspected and 85 (43.37%, 95% CI: 36.32-50.62) fed raw organs to dogs. Adequate knowledge was associated with butcher ownership (P-value = 0.002), age ≥35 years (P-value = 0.002) and higher literacy level (P-value <0.001).Conclusions and SignificanceThere is non-negligible risk of CH in Busia communities which might worsen with time given that the county is connected to endemic areas through livestock trade. Poor KAP by the people on the disease calls for need to implement information, education and communication campaigns to improve KAP on CH in the area.Author summaryCystic hydatidosis is a globally neglected parasitic zoonosis which is endemic in many parts of the world including Kenya. It is majorly a problem among pastoral communities where there is close contact between human, livestock and dogs. Busia County, in Western Kenya is part of a livestock marketing chain between Kenya and Uganda. Animals from high endemic regions in Uganda and Kenya can easily spread the parasite to Busia through improper disposal of their infested organs. Non-pastoral communities like Busia may not have much cumulative experience about the disease though their practices may contribute to the perpetuation of the parasite in their environment. The parasite is gradually spreading to new areas and it is very important to the public health players in Kenya to take action so as to prevent further spread of this disease. Findings from this study show that the disease is no longer limited to pastoral communities only. There is need for the implementation of information, education and communication campaigns to improve the knowledge, attitude and practices of Busia community and other non-endemic regions on the disease.