Study on Prevalence and Economic Loss due to Hydatidosis in Slaughtered Animals in Juba South Sudan

A 3-month cross-sectional study was conducted at the Gumbo slaughter place in Juba County. The objectives of the study were to determine prevalence rate and assess economic loss due to organs condemnation as a result of hydatidosis. Routine pre-slaughter examinations and meat inspections were performed on a total of 4,989 animals. Hydatidosis was found in 199 different visceral organs of slaughtered animals, with a prevalence of 3.99%. The mean prevalence rates for cattle, sheep, and goats were 3.94%, 6.99%, and 2.74%, respectively. The relative prevalence rates of hydatid cysts in the liver, lungs, spleen, heart, and kidneys were respectively 53.27%, 44.22%, 1.51%, 1.0%, and 0.0%. As a result, the liver and lungs had the highest rate of organ condemnation. The prevalence of Nilotic indigenous cattle was 5.74 percent, compared to 2.0 percent for the exotic Ankole cattle breed. This could be due to the free-range grazing and close association with domestic dogs. There were no statistically significant differences (P>0.05) in the prevalence of hydatidosis in November (4.3%), December (4.4%), and January (3.2%). Male cattle had a higher sex-based prevalence (4.11%) than female cattle (3.65%). Similarly, male sheep and goats showed no significant differences in rates of 5.31 and 3.97 percent (P>0.05), respectively, when compared to female sheep (4.88%) and goats (2.96%). Adult cattle had a higher prevalence rate of 3.93 percent than young cattle (2.39%). Adult sheep and goats had a prevalence of 5.26% and 3.83%, respectively, compared to young sheep and goats, which had a frequency of 4.72 and 2.64%. During the study period, the economic loss owing to the condemnation of 199 organs of cattle, sheep, and goats at retail market price amounted to 6,032 South Sudanese pound (SSP), or US$ 2,035.77 (one American dollar = 2.963 SSP). Hydatidosis is a common disease in sheep that causes economic losses in South Sudan. It is critical to develop the socioeconomic and cultural conditions for community-based control strategies. Key stakeholders are urged to prevent dogs from having access to fresh offal and to require hygienic disposal of condemned organs. More research is needed to determine the genotypic characteristics of Echinococcus granulosus local strains in livestock, as well as to assess the indirect economic loss and investigate the public health implications of hydatidosis in South Sudan.