Abstract
Cerebral parasitic cysts constitute a major problem for livestock. Among these, coenurosis and toxoplasmosis are predominant. Here, a total number of 60 sheep obtained from a private farm in Suez province, Egypt, were examined postmortem to detect visible parasitic cysts, and microscopically to detect small-sized entities. Necropsy revealed bladder-like cysts measuring 0.5-6.5 cm in diameter that were filled with a translucent fluid containing a large number of protoscolices. Accordingly, the cysts were identified as the metacestode Coenurus cerebralis. Among the sheep examined, 11 animals (7 males and 4 females) (18.3%) were infected. Most of the cysts were located in the cerebral hemispheres, with numbers ranging from one to three per infected animal. The effect of the presence of cysts in the brain tissue was evaluated. Histopathologically, pseudocysts of the apicomplexan Toxoplasma gondii were found in two animals with no detectable inflammatory cell reactions. In conclusion, coenurosis and toxoplasmosis are serious parasitic problems that play a significant role in sheep management in Egypt, as a result of close contact between livestock and dogs and cats, which play a critical role in the life cycle of these parasites.
Highlights
Cerebral coenurosis, or alternatively central nervous system (CNS) coenurosis, is an infection caused by the metacestode Coenurus cerebralis, of Taenia multiceps Leske, 1780
Necropsy revealed brain lesions in the subcortex of the cerebral hemisphere and cerebellum, consisting of bladder-like cysts measuring about 5 cm in diameter, filled with a translucent fluid containing a large number of floating white spherules of Coenurus cerebralis
Among the 60 sheep examined, Coenurus cerebralis cysts were found in the brains of 11 heads (18.3%)
Summary
Alternatively central nervous system (CNS) coenurosis, is an infection caused by the metacestode Coenurus cerebralis, of Taenia multiceps Leske, 1780. Small ruminants like sheep and goats are intermediate hosts of Toxoplasma gondii (DUBEY, 2009, 2010) Meat from these animals is regarded as an important source of nutrition for humans. There is an urgent need to elucidate the factors that cause it to spread, as well as the risk factors for this zoonotic disease in small ruminants The purposes of this investigation were to evaluate the parasitic cysts present in the brain tissues of slaughtered sheep obtained from a private farm in Suez province, Egypt; to highlight their prevalence and distribution pattern; and to determine the pathological alterations in brain tissues that occur as a result of the presence of these cysts
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