Hydatid cyst “Echinococcus granulosus” in some wildlife herbivores at Tripoli Safari park, Libya

Abstract

Background: Hydatidosis is one of the world's major zoonotic diseases caused by larval stages of Echinococcus granulosus. In North Africa, the disease is moderately endemic and associated with economic losses and public health problems. Methodology: The present study was conducted at Tripoli Safari park through the period from 2001-2004 to determine the infection rate of hydatidosis in some wildlife herbivorous species. A total of 79 wild herbivores were examined for hydatid cyst infection. The overall infection rate with hydatid cyst of examined animals was 23/79 (29.2%), 3/7 (42.9%) in Addax, (Addax nasomaculatuss, 4/17 (23.5%) dorcas gazelle (Gazella ddorcass, 4/14 (28.6%) barbary sheep (Ammortagus lervia), 5/12 (41.7%) mouflon (Ovis musimon) and 7/29 (24.6%) fallow deer (Dama ddama). The organs distribution of hydatid cyst in infected animals was 11 (47.8%) in lung, 5 (21.7%) in liver and 7 (30.4%) in both lung and liver. Results: Cyst fertility examination of a total of 249 hydatid cyst recovered from infected animals indicated that 168 (68.3%) was fertile cyst, 47 (19.1%) and 31 (12.6%) were sterile and calcified cysts, respectively. Out of 168 fertile cysts tested for viability 43 (25.6%) were viable. Conclusion: Conclusively, the present data represents the first large scale report on the occurrence of hydatidosis in wild herbivores at North Africa.