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Prevalence of cystic echinococcosis in camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Libya

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2009

M.M. Ibrahem
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT, UK Department of Biological Sciences, University of Seventh April, PO Box 16418, Zawia, Libya
P.S. Craig*
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT, UK
*
* Fax: 0161 745 5210 E-mail: p.s.craig@biosci.salford.ac.uk

Abstract

In an abattoir study, 514 camels, slaughtered for meat production in different areas of northern Libya were examined for the presence of cystic echinococcosis (CE). In addition, 367 sheep and 184 goats were examined. The overall prevalence of infection with CE was 48% in camels, 15.8% in sheep and 3.8% in goats. The infection rate, number and size of cysts were significantly higher in older camels. In six city abattoirs across northern Libya, i.e. Zawia, Tripoli, ElKhumes, Mesurata, Sirt and Benghazi, the prevalence rate of infection in camels ranged from 38.7% to 55.2%, in comparison with sheep and goat rates which were between 0% and 37.9% and 0% and 8.2%, respectively. In camels, the lungs were the most frequently infected organs (85.4%) with liver cysts occurring at a significantly lower rate (33%). In contrast, the liver was the predominant infected site with prevalence values of 86% and 100% in sheep and goats, respectively. More than 90% of camel hydatid cysts were fertile. The possible role of camels in the transmission of CE in Libya is discussed.

Type
Research Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1998

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