Authors : S. Attindehou and S. Salifou
Abstract: A study was undertaken in order to assess the prevalence and the seasonal variation of cestodes infections in small ruminants of Benin. From December 2010 to November 2011, 756 randomly selected small ruminants (366 sheep and 390 goats) have been slaughtered and autopsied. Surface’s muscles, viscera and cavities (abdominal, thoracic and pelvic) have been inspected for recovering cysts (metacestodes) and adult cestodes. In both sheep and goats, two larval cestodes have been found. There were Cysticercus tenuicollis and Cysticercus ovis with respectively, 55.57 and 3.44% of prevalence. Regarding adult cestodes, only Moniezia expensa was diagnosed with an overall prevalence of 29.5%. The whole infections were prevalent all seasons with nevertheless high rates in rainy seasons. The prevalence of cysticercosis was significantly (p<0.001) higher in adult animals (37%) than in young (22%). This study reveals that cysticercosis represent an acute problem for animal health and for meat’s quality in Benin.
S. Attindehou and S. Salifou, 2012. Epidemiology of Cestodes Infections in Sheep and Goats in Benin. Veterinary Research, 5: 59-62.