Prevalence of Hydatid cysts in Slaughtered Awassi Sheep at Abattoirs in Syria

Hydatidosis is a parasitic disease that affects both human and animals. It is widely spread in the world

especially in the Mediterranean region. It is caused by

Echinococcus granulosus

spp.

In this study 6444 carcasses (2800 >1 year old and 3644 < 1 year old) were examined in eight abattoirs of eight different provinces in Syria, in order to estimate prevalence of the Hydatid cysts in slaughtered

Awassi sheep, and to assess the hygienic conditions of the slaughterhouses and their role in spreading Hy-

datid cysts. The slaughtered sheep were examined visually, by palpation and by opening the cysts to deter

mine its type in the liver and lungs………………