ABSTRACT
Cysticercus bovis is the metacestode of the commonly defined foodborne cestode, Taenia saginata. It infects heart, masseter muscles and other muscular sites of cattle causing bovine cysticercosis. So, a retrospective study using archival documents from authorized agencies is done during the period of 2018-2020 with estimating economic losses. Cysts were collected from municipal Beni-Suef and Basatin abattoirs. Molecular approach including cPCR and sequencing analysis is used to prove the species. The prevalence was 0.34% in Beni-Suef abattoir and 5.70% in Basatin abattoir including heads, hearts or all carcasses condemned. Among 27 provinces surveyed, the highest prevalence was recorded in Aswan followed by Cairo, Suez and Red Sea. Moreover, 19 provinces (Cairo, Alexandria, Suez, Dakahlia, Sharkia, Qalyobia, Kafrelsheikh, Gharbia, Menofiya, Ismailia, Giza, Beni-Suef, Assiut, Sohag, Qena, Aswan, Red Sea, South Sinai and El-Wadi El-Gadid) recorded bovine cysticercosis in 2018, 2019 and 2020. On the other hand, Luxor and North Sinai had no infections. The percentages of condemnation among slaughtered cattle were 1.38, 1.49 and 0.87% in 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively. Condemnations significantly varied among north, middle and south districts of Egypt, and also varied annually. Molecularly, a diagnostic band at an amplicon size 253 bp targeting the COI gene specific for Cycticercus bovis was revealed. The obtained sequences showed 100% identity with the different Taenia saginata COI GB sequence isolates in many countries worldwide. The phylogenetic analysis method showed that the obtained sequences originating from the same clade of Taenia saginata GB isolates globally. Careful meat inspection as well as strict hygienic measures is recommended for both veterinarians and public.
ABSTRACT
A retrospective study to estimate economic losses caused by livers condemnation, due to fascioliasis, of slaughtered cattle and buffaloes in Egypt during the period of 2016-2020, was done. Moreover, a morpho-molecular identification of collected liver flukes from slaughtered animals in municipal abattoirs was conducted. Livers of naturally infected carcasses were obtained from slaughtered animals in Beni-Suef, Cairo and Tanta provinces, Egypt during 2019-2020 for phenotypic characterization of recovered Fasciola species and molecular identification of collected worms using PCR targeting the ITS-1 region. Findings of the retrospective study revealed that percentages of livers condemnation of cattle and buffaloes ranged from 0.79 to 0.66% during the period from 2016 to 2020. The highest percentages were detected in the south Egypt (2.5-6.0%) with the highest economic losses (261850-616300 USD annually). Morphometrically, collected flukes categorized into Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica. No intermediate forms (Fasciola sp.-like) were detected. Sequencing analysis of ITS-1 PCR products showed that only Fasciola hepatica (26/34) and F. gigantica (8/34) isolates were found, with no intermediate forms, Fasciola sp.-like, could be identified. Currently, Fasciola hepatica was 100% identical with the Egyptian species (LC076196 and JF294998), French species (JF294999), and Iranian species (MF969009 and MK377150). Moreover, the obtained F. gigantica species showed 100% identity with Egyptian ones (LC076125, LC076108 and KX198619), Iranian (KF982047 and MF372919), and other GenBank specimens from Vietnam, Cameroon and India. In conclusion, South Egypt showed the highest economic losses due to fascioliasis, especially Aswan province. Fasciola hepatica was more common than F. gigantica, while the hybrid form was not detected.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Under the poor hygienic conditions, tick-borne pathogens cause severe economic losses to the cattle industry. PURPOSE: The current study investigated the presence of Theileria annulata, Babesia bigemina, and Anaplasma marginale, the most relevant tick-borne pathogens in cattle, in 3 provinces of Egypt utilizing species-specific PCR assays. METHODS: PCR was conducted, on bovine blood specimens, using primers targeting the T. annulata merozoite-piroplasm surface antigen (Tams1, 768 bp), A. marginale major surface protein-1b gene (msp1b, 265 bp), and B. bigemina small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (SSrRNA, 543 bp). RESULTS: PCR findings revealed overall prevalences of T. annulata, B. bigemina, and A. marginale as 22.0% (33/150), 19.33% (29/150), and 10.6% (16/150), respectively. The co-infection with two or three pathogens was detected in 20.0% (30/150) of examined specimens. Sequence analyses indicated that T. annulata and A. marginale varied from those of corresponding GenBank sequences revealing percent identities ranging from 90.68 to 97.75% and from 94.98 to 98.63%, respectively. On the other hand, the obtained B. bigemina sequences showed a high similarity with those previously reported in GenBank with a percent identity ranging from 98.85 to 100%. CONCLUSION: T. annulata was the most prevalent tick-borne pathogen in examined bovine specimens. The genetic diversity of markers used for identification of T. annulata and A. marginale should be highly considered.
