A meatworks survey of bovine hydatidosis in southern Queensland.
A meatworks survey was undertaken in 1981-82 to define the distribution and prevalence of hydatidosis in beef cattle in southern Queensland. Hydatid cysts, mostly degenerate, were found in 14.6% of the 22,916 animals examined. The endemic area was to the east of a line approximating the 500 mm isohyet. Prevalence varied with age and origin of cattle, but not sex. Prevalence increased linearly with age, at least up to 4 years. Prevalence on the east coast ranged from 4.3% in yearlings to 52.2% in 4-year-old cattle. At the western limit of the endemic area, the prevalence ranged from 1.4% in yearlings to 10.8% in 4-year-olds. On the Darling Downs, prevalence was highest in areas where cattle raising is the main industry. On the south western Downs, where sheep-farming predominates, the prevalence in cattle was much lower, probably because of fewer dingoes. Livers only were affected in 46.5% of infected cattle, lungs only in 17.7%, and 35.8% of infected animals had both organs affected. Infection in other organs was uncommon. A detailed study of 133 infected cattle showed that 3.8% had lesions misdiagnosed as hydatid cysts at slaughter.
D000003:Abattoirs; D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004444:Echinococcosis, Hepatic / Q000662:veterinary; D004445:Echinococcosis, Pulmonary / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D008297:Male