Prevalence of ovine cystic echinococcosis in Kashmir Valley, North India

• Published in: Veterinary parasitology (Amsterdam) Vol. 10; pp. 85 - 89
• Main Authors: Rashid, Adil, Darzi, M M, Mir, M S, Dar, L M, Mir, Ambreen, Kashani, Syed Bisma, Maharana, B R, Patbandha, T K, Allaie, I M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 01.12.2017
• Subjects: Animals; Echinococcosis - epidemiology; Echinococcosis - parasitology; Echinococcosis - veterinary; India - epidemiology; Sheep; Sheep Diseases - epidemiology; Sheep Diseases - parasitology; India; Sheep; Cystic echinococcosis; Prevalence; Kashmir Valley; North India
• ISSN: 2405-9390; 2405-9390
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2017.08.007

A total of 1455 local and non-local (originating from other Indian states), slaughtered or spontaneously dead, sheep in various areas of Kashmir Valley were investigated for the presence of cystic echinococcosis over a period of one year. The overall prevalence was 7.97% with higher prevalence in local (14.3%) than in non-local sheep (6.06%). The prevalence of infection, total number of cysts recovered and mean intensity of infection were higher in lungs as 66.2%, 506 & 5.1% respectively, followed by liver (28.5%, 169, 3.9%) and spleen (5.3%, 9, 1.13%). Either single (71.55%) or multiple (28.45%) organ involvements were observed. 66.6% of cysts were of small size, 19.29% medium, 7.01% large and 7.01% calcified. The fertility of cysts was noted to be 65.7% whereas 34.2% were infertile which included 27.1% sterile and 7.01% calcified cysts. The viability percentage of protoscolices from all the fertile cysts was 74.2%. The number of cysts recovered was higher in sheep with body condition score- emaciated, thin and average, and lower in, fat and obesed. The study showed that the local sheep were more vulnerable to contract cystic echinococcosis than non-local sheep which is further aggravated by poor body condition.