Prevalence and Economic Impact of Cysticercus Bovis in Slaughtered Cattle at El-Menofia Governorate, Egypt

Abstract

Bovine cysticercosis is regarded as a critical public health problem affecting farm animals' wealth. The current study sought to establish the prevalence of Cysticercus bovis, histopathology, and its economic effect on slaughtered cattle from Egypt's El-Menofia Province. The inspection of 4670 cattle carcasses, 2500 male and 2170 female, was done over two years, from March 2019 to February 2021, at three abattoirs (El-Shohada, El-Bagour, and Menof). The findings showed that 0.69% of slaughtered cattle had C. bovis. The prevalence was highest in summer and autumn at 0.195% followed by winter at 0.17% and spring at 0.13%. Females were more susceptible than males to infection at 0.58% and 0.11%, respectively. The presence of C. bovis was associated with the age of the inspected carcass. The increased prevalence was observed in female cattle older than 5 years. The predilection sites were masseter muscle (0.23%), heart (0.44%), and entire carcass (0.04%). Heavy infection with C. bovis was observed in two cases in El-Bagour abattoir. The recovered C. bovis morphology and histopathology were documented. Grossly, C. bovis was found either an oval live fluid-filled cyst or a degenerating dead cyst with dystrophic calcification. Histopathology of C. bovis in cow muscle showed its sucker, central spiral convoluted canal, and oval-shaped basophilic calcareous bodies. The parasite was surrounded by the host inflammatory cells. C. bovis was found live, dead, or calcified and ranged from 5-8mm in diameter, with local or heavy infestation. Cysticercosis caused significant economic losses, with an estimated total annual loss of 57970 Egyptian Pounds from the condemnation of organs in this study's inspected carcasses and a total of 1935150 EP from the total condemnation in the three abattoirs included in this study, including ours. This low prevalence of infection suggests using a good drainage system to protect cattle intermediate hosts of T. saginata to prevent human infection.