[A survey of Echinococcus granulosus infection in Camelus bactrianus in north Xinjiang].

AIM

To determine the situation and characteristics of Echinococcus granulosus infection in camels (Camelus bacterianus) in our country.

METHODS

The camels slaughtered in abattoir were examined for visceral infection of larval cestode of Echinococcus. The number and diameter of cysts were recorded and the content of cysts were examined microscopically to detect the protoscoleces.

RESULTS

185 out of 375 camels were positive, the infection rate was 49.3%. The metacestodes parasitized mainly in the liver and lung, the ratio between liver and lung involved was 1:0.64. The fertile cyst rate was 39.2%, the fertile cyst-carrying rate of camels was 34.8%, the cyst index was 7.53. The cyst wall was relatively thin and the cysts located singly on the surface of liver. There was no daughter cyst seen in fertile cysts. The average diameter of fertile cysts was 5.6 +/- 2.65 cm in liver and 4.83 +/- 2.03 cm in lung. The percentage of animals harboring calcified cysts was 64.3%.

CONCLUSION

The infection rate of metacestodes of Echinococcus granulosus in Bactrian camel was very high in north Xinjiang and the characteristics of infection differ in some aspects from the local sheep and cattle and from dromedaries in Africa as well. Further study is needed to elucidate the significance of the infection of E. granulosus in Bactrian camels.