ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE, BIOMETRY AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF HYDATID CYST IN CATTLE ( BOS INDICUS )

Abstract

The study under report revealed investigations on economic losses, biometry and chemical composition of hydatid cyst in cattle. Five thousand cattle of either sex were examined at slaughter in Faisalabad abattoir during 1988 to 1990. A prevalence of hydatidosis in 35 per cent cattle was recorded. The hydatid cyst was found in various organs i.e. liver, lungs, spleen, heart and kidneys. Liver contained 25.31 per cent cystic burden while lungs and spleen were having 47.31 and 1.83 per cent of cysts, respectively. Female cattle contained significantly higher burden of cysts in lungs, spleen and lungs, liver and spleen simultaneously as compared to male cattle. Lungs were found to be the main seat of cyst localization irrespective of the sex. An Annual national loss of 26.5 million rupees was estimated due to condemnation of hydatid infected organs during the year 1990. Almost half of the total economic loss was being born by Sindh followed by Punjab 13.3 and 7.3 million rupees. Chemical composition studies of hydatid cystic fluid revealed that the proteins, lipids and glucose were found significantly different in each case of fertile and infertile (sterile) hydatid cystic fluid. A significantly higher amount of protein contents were found in lungs as compared to livers while lipids were found significantly lower in liver infertile (sterile) hydatid cystic fluid. Similarly the contents of glucose were found significantly higher in livers than the lungs cystic fluid. Among electrolytes, sodium (Na) contents were found significantly higher in sterile hydatid cystic fluid of livers while significantly a lower concentration of potassium (K) were observed in the sterile hydatid cystic fluid of lungs. The chloride (Cl) contents were found significantly higher in the sterile hydatid cystic fluid of both livers and lungs. The trace elements, phosphorous (P), Copper (Cu) and Iron (Fe) were found significantly higher in concentration in the cystic fluid of livers and lungs fertile hydatid cysts as compared with the sterile ones. Magnesium (Mg) contents were found nearly constant in both fertile and sterile hydatid cystic fluid of livers and lungs.