The Monetary Losses Associated with Hydatidosis in Slaughtered Ruminants in Turkey

Hydatidosis is a parasitic zoonotic disease that negatively affects human and animal health and causes economic losses due to slaughter condemnation and risk to public health in developing countries. This study aims to determine the prevalence of Hydatidosis among slaughtered livestock in different regions of Turkey and calculate the financial losses associated with the zoonosis. For this purpose, livestock slaughter records from the livestock information system in 2020 were considered and direct and indirect economic losses were estimated. The study determined the prevalence of hydatidosis in small ruminants (0.03%) and cattle (0.0124%) and an average of 0.007% of the total number of livestock slaughtered during the period under study were infected with hydatid cysts. The direct and indirect economic losses were estimated at $98.558 and $466.891, respectively. The total monetary loss due to Hydatidosis in Turkey in the year 2020 was estimated at $565.448. In conclusion, significant monetary losses due to Hydatidosis in slaughtered livestock is still an important economic issue to livestock traders in Turkey.