Impact of hydatidosis disease upon human's population and livestock animals production

Eggs of the E. granulosus parasite are disseminated in the environment by dogs. Thus, they are transmitted to a wide range of intermediate hosts, including sheep and humans, causing an infestation with the hydatid cyst (larval stage of the parasite) [7].

The abundance of stray dogs and slaughter practices that allow dogs’ access to condemned offal, particularly in rural areas, contribute to the persistence of hydatidosis. Hydatidosis is a serious public health problem and has a significant socio-economic impact. The Echinococcus granulosus infestation is a major financial burden derived from human health costs and losses in livestock production. The economic burden of cystic echinococcosis on the global livestock industry has been estimated at over $2 billion per year. Despite the substantial socio-economic impact, hydatidosis is still a neglected zoonosis [15].

In humans, hydatid cyst is the cause of significant morbidity and mortality worldwide and is responsible for a significant economic loss in the public health sector [16, 17]. Hydatid cyst has several consequences, including the direct costs of diagnosis, hospitalization, surgical treatment, post-surgical care, for the patient and family members, without forgetting the indirect losses of mortality, pain and social consequences of lost working days and the cessation of agricultural activities by those affected or at risk [16-18]. People with hydatid cysts never restore a perfect health condition even after they have recovered [4].

At the livestock animal level, it involves losses in production, and their importance varies according to the breed and type of production concerned [19]:

• Organs not usable and seized at the slaughterhouse, especially liver and lung;

• Cost of destruction of infected viscera and dead animals;

• Possible restriction on the export of animals and their products;

• Parasitic hydatid cachexia associated with poly-parasitism in animals, which is a reason for reforming adult sheep whose productive life is reduced;

• Brutal mortality following the rupture of a hydatid cyst.

In sheep farming, it is estimated that 7-10% of milk losses, 5-20% of meat or whole carcass weight losses, and 10-40% of wool losses occurred (Table 1) [18].

Meat 2,5-10

Table 1.

Reduction rate of animal products caused by hydatidosis [18].

to a recent study by Saadi et al., the economic impact of hydatidosis on animal production in Morocco is very significant [17].

4.