The Prevalence and History of Echinococcus granulosus Infection in Dogs in Libya and the Potential Role of Dogs in Transmission of Cystic Echinococcosis

Libya is a country situated in North Africa, south to the Mediterranean with an area of 1 759 540 km²,
and border line of 4348 km, this makes the country fourth largest in Africa and the seventeenth largest
in the world. Sheep, goats, cattle and camels are the most numerous grazing animals in Libya, and
are important intermediate hosts for Echinococcus granulosus which is the causative parasite of cystic
hydatid disease condition. E. Granulosus is a tiny tapeworm that parasitizes the small intestine of
canids, mainly dogs, which act as definitive hosts for the parasite. Infected dogs are the main source
of infection to humans and livestock. The parasite is widely distributed in many parts of the world and
is very common in North African countries. In Libya, the rate of infection with echinococcosis in dogs
was reported to be lower than 7% to 80% in stray dogs, 34.8% to 60% in sheep/guard dogs and 7.7%
to 21.6% in farm/house dogs. This data fulfills the WHO criteria and suggests that the incidence of
infection with echinococcosis/ hydatidosis in some parts of the country can be reaching the level of
hyper endemic. Diagnosis of echinococcosis in infected dogs can be performed by isolating the
parasite from their faeces or from the contents of their small intestine after necropsy. Recent
developments in immunodiagnostic assays for echinococcosis in dogs have been described. Public
health and risk factors as well as ways of hydatid disease treatment and various control strategies,
including the use of veterinary vaccines, have also been discussed.