In 2018, the economic loss caused by each of the studied parasites, including hydatid cyst, fascioliasis, dicrocoeliosis, and cysticercosis, was estimated to be 19.777.200.000, 8.668.350.000, 10.36.000.000, and 432,650,000 Rial, respectively; in 2019, it was estimated to be 22.140.300.000, 9.708.100,000, 10.909.400.000, and 183.700.000 Rial, respectively
Based on the results, the average annual direct economic loss caused by parasites infections due to liver condemnation in cattle and ovine were estimated to be 39. 420.500.000 Rial in 2018 and 42.941.500.000 Rial in 2019. Furthermore, overall economic loss during the years of the study was estimated to be 82.362.000.000 Rial, equivalent to 588.300 USD.
Discussion
Parasitic infections in domestic animals are considered chronic diseases, without specific clinical symptoms, in the livestock industry, causing significant economic losses in the field. Due to the zoonotic nature of some of these diseases and the possibility of their transmission through infected meat to humans, it is essential to study the prevalence and information on appropriate strategies to reduce infection. Rejection and seizure of lung and liver are two of the most important causes of loss by hydatidosis in cattle, the economic estimate of which is very important [20].
As reported in the results of this study, the prevalence of hydatid cyst in 2018 in sheep, cattle, and goat liver was 6.37%, 2.40%, and 1.90%, respectively, while in 2019, it was 8.06%, 2.83%, and 1.35%, respectively. The prevalence of hydatid cyst was significantly higher in sheep liver than those of cattle and goats in the studied years. Also, the highest seasonal prevalence of parasitic infections in the liver was observed in spring and summer during the studied years, respectively.
In the study of Fallah et al. (2010), the infection rate was 13.7% in sheep, 16.2% in cattle, and 1.8% in goats [21]. Also, Hamzavi et al. (2016), in a study of the prevalence of hydatid cyst in slaughtered livestock in Assadabad between 2014 and 2015, reported the highest rate of infection in sheep (16.38%) and the lowest rate in goats (1.9%). Also, the highest level of infection was observed in the spring, followed by summer. The low rate of goat infection with the hydatid cyst in this study was consistent with that in the present study. This could be because the goat is less sensitive to the parasite due to the presence of protective antibodies against the parasite larvae. Also, the eating habit of goats, which prefer to feed on twigs, can be effective in reducing the incidence of hydatid cysts [22]. Ghasemian et al. (2013) examined all the livers and lungs of sheep and goats slaughtered in the Gachsaran slaughterhouse in 2012 under a macroscopic examination. A total of 11,753 livers and lungs were inspected, 1,531 of which were confiscated and taken out of the consumption cycle. According to their results, 9.99% Fasciola & 6.20% hydatid cyst in sheep liver and 27.9% Fasciola & 9.60% hydatid cyst in goat liver were observed. The prevalence of Fasciola and hydatid cyst was higher in goats than in sheep, which contradicted the present study [1]. In another aiming to determine the infection rate of slaughtered cattle in Sarpol-e-Zahab city with hydatid cyst, Cysticercus, Fasciola, and Dicrocoelium, among 1170 slaughtered cattle, 417 (35.64%) were declared infected within a year. The rates of liver infection with hydatid cyst, Fasciola, Dicrocoelium, and Cysticercus were 8.11% (95 cases), 5.47% (64 cases), 0.85% (10 cases), and 0.68% (8 cases), respectively. In the present study, the rate of infection of cattle with a high Cysticercus prevalence was reported. The lower prevalence of hydatid cysts in cattle in autumn can be related to the geographical location of the region and less rainfall in this season. In this region, unlike other areas in Iran, rainfall is usually lower in autumn; thus, the time is suitable for grazing due to the low plants, and farmers keep most of the cattle in a closed area, resulting in the low prevalence of hydatid cysts in season; autumn was less reported [23]. Majidi Rad et al. (2018) reported the Dicrocoelium infection in three provinces of Gilan, Mazandaran, and Golestan as 9.37%, 4.16%, and 1.87%, respectively [24]. Mohammadzadeh et al. (2016) reached similar results in studying the prevalence of parasitic infections in the liver and lungs of slaughtered animals in modern slaughterhouses in Fars province. They reported that the prevalence of liver hydatid cyst in slaughtered animals in Shiraz slaughterhouse was 3.44% in sheep, 3.12% in cattle, 2.94% in goats, and 2.9% in camels, respectively. Also, the prevalence of fasciolosis in sheep and cattle was 2.49% and 1.86%, respectively, while that of the Dicrocoelium parasite was 0.026% in sheep, 0.91% in cattle, and 4% in goats. According to these results, the most common infection was hydatid cyst and then fasciolosis [25]. Khanjari et al. (2015), in a study, examined the relationship of the prevalence of Cysticercus tenuicollis parasite with age, sex, season, and infected organ in slaughtered animals in Amol abattoir, Mazandaran province. They concluded that the highest prevalence of this parasite was observed in the liver of sheep and goats, with the most prevalence in spring, followed by summer [14]; this was consistent with the present study. The prevalence of liver parasites in slaughtered cattle in slaughterhouses of Lorestan province was studied by Ezzatpour et al. (2014). They reported the hydatid cyst to have the highest prevalence of parasitism in the liver of slaughtered cattle.
In the study of Kheiri et al. (2020), in the West Azerbaijan province during 2014-2019, the prevalence of hydatidosis, fasciolosis, and Dicrocoeliosis in sheep and goats was reported as 16.46%, 2.30%, and 10.50%, while in cattle, it was 15.90%, 4.70%, and 2.47%, respectively. Also, the highest prevalence of Fasciola and Dicrocoelium was observed in spring, while the highest rate of hydatidosis was in winter [26]. In our study, the highest cases of infection were related to spring, and the lowest cases were observed in winter. In Hamzavi et al. (2016), the amount of contamination in different seasons was studied, being more in spring than in other seasons [22].
In Italy (the Sardinia region), the prevalence of hydatidosis was studied by Scala et al. They reported a 75% prevalence of hydatid cyst, showing a higher prevalence of infection compared to our study [27]. Also, Odeniran et al. (2016), in a study of animals slaughtered in the Ipata slaughterhouse in Nigeria, reported the prevalence of Fasciola infection as 20.29%, 5.54%, and 2.44% in cattle, sheep, and goats, respectively. They also reported the prevalence of Dicrocoeliosis in cattle, sheep, and goats as 0.00%, 0.25%, and 0.00%, respectively. The most common organs infected by fasciolosis and Dicrocoelium were liver and bile ducts, respectively. According to these results, sheep had the most parasitic infestations and infections than cattle and goats, which was consistent with our study [28]. In examining the cattle hydatidosis prevalence while considering its economic importance in slaughtered cattle at Bahir Dar municipal abattoir, Northern Ethiopia, the total estimated annual loss due to the condemnation of offal and carcass weight loss was 1,112,769.85 Ethiopian Birr (ETB) (55,638.49 USD). Thus, efficient control measures towards hydatidosis should be applied [29]. Most African countries have records of E. granulosus. In ruminants, it has resulted in an enormous economic loss because of the condemnation of affected organs and reduction of the meat, milk, and wool production [30]. A study in Ahvaz, focusing on the economic importance of parasitic infection, reported that parasites were responsible for 54.4% of offal/carcass condemnations, with an affiliated economic loss of $1.2 million approximately. Parasites were responsible for 54.1% of the condemned organs or carcasses, with a retail value (based on market prices in 2011) of $1.148.181 (U.S.) ($137. 880 for cattle, $602,699 for sheep, $280,955 for goats, and $126,647 for buffalos) [31].
Retrospective studies of diseases encountered at abattoirs provide useful prevalence and pathology profiles, which can be used in risk assessment or future planning of control and prevention strategies. However, to achieve all these goals, rigorous and adequate meat inspection procedures, proper record of abattoir data, and, if possible, computerization of such data is necessary. It should be noted that the actual prevalence of the infection in slaughtered animals may be underestimated due to different reasons, such as potentially inadequate meat inspection, rapid slaughter rates, and unsuitable facilities. A limitation of the current study was the convenient
method used for sampling.
Conclusion
In conclusion, due to the high prevalence of hydatid cyst in Mazandaran province, this region can be considered endemic. According to the present study, the rate of contamination of slaughtered animals with hydatid cysts and Fasciola is high. One of the reasons for the high rate of parasitic infection in livestock in Mazandaran can be stray dogs and herds without health control. This indicates the potential risk of hydatid cyst disease for the health of human communities. Therefore, it is necessary for health experts and officials to take action with scientific solutions to control or prevent disease in human societies and reduce economic losses in livestock due to the reduction in livestock production and its efficiency. One of these strategies is to take anti-parasitic measures, such as using anti-parasitic drugs twice a year (early autumn and early spring) in the field.
Acknowledgement
The authors thank the colleagues of the Mazandaran Province Veterinary Office. This research work was supported by a research grant from the Amol University of Special Modern Technologies, Amol, Iran.
Conflict of interest: None declared.
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