Prevalence, Organ Distribution and Risk Factors Associated with Hydatidosis in Camels Slaughtered at Akaki Municipal Abattoir, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Hydatidosis is a parasitic zoonosis caused by the larval stage of <i>Echinococcus granulosus</i>, posing significant public health and economic concerns in camels. A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2018 to April 2019 to determine the prevalence of camel hydatidosis and its associated risk factors in camels slaughtered at Akaki Municipal Abattoir, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A total of 364 camels were randomly selected and subjected to ante-mortem and post-mortem examination. Sex, age, body condition, and origin were recorded before thorough inspection of the lungs, liver, spleen, heart, and other organs for hydatid cysts. The overall prevalence of hydatidosis was 53.6% (195/364). Females (64.5%) and older camels (>10 years; 57.7%) showed significantly higher infection rates. Camels with medium body condition had a higher prevalence (59.4%) than those in good condition. Statistically significant associations (p = 0.00) were found between hydatidosis and sex, age, and body condition, while origin showed no significant association (p > 0.05). Among 239 infected organs, the lungs were the most frequently affected (60.7%), followed by the liver (34.4%), spleen (3.7%), and heart (1.2%). Of 736 collected cysts, 494 were found in the lungs and 222 in the liver, with 157 (21.3%) fertile, 545 (74.1%) sterile, and 122 (16.6%) calcified cysts. The high prevalence of hydatidosis highlights a lack of awareness in the camel-producing areas. Therefore, public education and targeted control strategies are recommended to reduce the burden of the disease.