Abstract:
An abattoir based study was conducted to determine the prevalence or hydatid cyst in sheep and goats slaughtered at Soroti Municipal Abattoir from March to April 2014. A total of 454 animals comprising 294 goats and160 sheep of both sexes were examined at Post-mortem for the evidence of hydatid cyst. The overall infection rate of 33.33% in goats and 42.50% in sheep were observed. The high prevalence could possibly be attributed to continued practice of home slaughtering in the periphery of Soroti Municipality coupled with high number of stray dogs presenting high infection risk. 34.18% male sheep, 41.98% female sheep (P=O.05) and 34.52% male goats, 26.98% female goats (P=O.109) were infected with hydatid cyst. This could be because both male and female goats share the same grazing condition. And most female sheep are slaughtered at an older age 20.25% goats, 27.27% sheep aged 0-1 year were infected 35.63% goats, 40.74% sheep aged 2-3 years and 46.94% goats, 54.54% sheep above 3 years were infected with hydatid cyst.(Goats P=O.202, Sheep P=O.469). Prevalence of infection was higher in the older animals especially those 3 years and above. This Could possibly be because
aged animals have longer exposuretimes to eggs of Echinococcus granulosus, in addition to weaker immunity to combat against the infection. According to Sub-county of origin, Asuret has the highest prevalence of 36.73% in goats, 51.02% in sheep. Followed by Gweri with 24.59% goats, 47.37% sheep infected; Kamuda come third with 43.14% goats and 35.71% sheep infected with hydatid cyst. Arapai has the prevalence of 3333% in goats. arid 2.9.03%' in sheep. Statistical analysis revealed no significance difference in prevalence among Sub-counties of origin (P=0.272) It is recommended that public health measures such as control of stray dogs and provision of and strengthening of meat inspection services at abattoirs be encouraged in Soroti District.
