Hydatidosis in camels (Camelus dromedarius) slaughtered at Sirt Abattoir, Libya.

Fifty out of 1380 (3.62 %) local bred camels (Camelus dromedarius) harboured hydatid cysts of Echinococcus granulosus. Prevalence in males was 3.07 %, in females was 4.42 % and overall prevalence rate was 3.62%. Infection was higher in age group 1 <3 years than others. The most commonly infected organs were lungs 46% followed by liver 24%, both liver and lungs constituted 30% of infection. Hydatid cysts of lungs had a higher fertility rate (85.77%) than those of liver (14.23%). The mean number of cysts in infected liver was 1 to 15 and in infected lung were 1 to 17 cysts. Intensity of infection increased with increasing age. Cysts size varied from 1-8 cm in diameter.