Prevalence of hydatid cysts in slaughtered sheep and goats in Hadhramout (Yemen)‎

الملخص EN

218 sheep and 422 goats' carcasses were examined (2005 / 2006) for the presence of hydatid cysts in Hadhramout (Yemen).

The prevalence was 3.21 % in sheep and 2.13 % in goats.

All the positive animals are males.

The liver was the predominant site of infection in both animals.

In relation to the age-group (years) the rate of infection increased with the animal's age.

There was a slight difference in the fertility of cysts in sheep (46.6 %) and goats (55.2 %), while the same observations were noted between liver and lungs in the two animals, while the degenerated cysts were more observed in sheep (24.5 %) than in goats (12.6 %).

These findings reflect the existence of the life cycle maintainance and the transmission of the cestode Echinococcus granulossus from definitive host (dogs) to intermediate hosts (sheep, goats) in Yemen.

Consequently, further epidemiological researches are needed to clarify all the factors affecting the continuity of this biological cycle.