The Evolution of Cystic Echinococcosis in Humans and Ruminants in Portugal-A One Health Approach.

Cystic echinococcosis, also known as hydatid disease, is a significant parasitic zoonosis with public health implications, albeit often neglected. In Portugal, data on this zoonosis are scarce despite being a mandatory notifiable disease in both humans and animals. To assess the impact of cystic echinococcosis on both livestock and humans, we compiled data from slaughterhouse records of ruminants, human hospitalizations, and confirmed cases of human echinococcosis. Overall, a total of 298 cases of cystic echinococcosis were identified in ruminants slaughtered from national farms for human consumption in Portugal between 2008 and 2022, comprising 192 cases in ovines, 95 in bovines, and 11 in caprines. Echinococcosis led to 582 hospitalizations in Portuguese public hospitals, with an average hospital stay of 11 days (±15.66), and resulted in 13 deaths (2.23%) from 2008 to 2018. Each infected animal was associated with a 7% increase in the incidence rate of human hospitalization (p = 0.002, IRR = 1.070, 95% CI: 1.025-1.117). Additionally, for every 100,000 person-years observed between 2008 and 2018, the total number of hospitalizations was 0.528. Residence in the Alentejo region was associated with a 5.3-fold increase in the incidence rate of human hospitalizations and an 8-fold higher risk of death from echinococcosis.

Resorcylic acid lactones in urine samples of slaughtered animals resulting from potential feed contamination with zearalenone.

Resorcylic Acid Lactones, including zeranol, anabolics listed in the group A4 of Directive 96/23/EC, are banned in Europe for use in animals since 1985. Zeranol, after administration to animals, is metabolized to taleranol and zearalanone. It can also naturally occur in the urine due to conversion of zearalenone that may be present in animal feed. In 2010-2017, in Poland, 7746 animal samples were tested for zeranol residues within the official monitoring program. In 13, zeranol was detected after screening. Re-examinations confirmed resorcylic acid lactones in six samples. The recommendations state that only the presence of zeranol and/or taleranol gives the basis for non-compliance. Confirmation should cover the entire profile of six resorcylic acid lactones. In case of detection, the relationship ratio should be verified. Following the proposed criteria, it could be concluded that zeranol detected in urine samples in Poland originated from contamination of feed with mycotoxin, not from illegal use.

Echinococcus granulosus in humans associated with disease incidence in domestic animals in Kermanshah, west of Iran.

Hydatidosis is one of the important zoonotic diseases that cause considerable economic losses and public health problems worldwide. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence Echinococcus granulosus in people and slaughtered animals in Kermanshah province, west of Iran. Hospitals data and meat-inspection records in Kermanshah abattoir were used in this study. A total number of 32,130 slaughtered livestock (7000 cattle, 19,950 sheep and 5180 goats) was inspected in the 3-year period and overall 2043 (6.35 %) were infected. The highest and lowest prevalence was recorded in cattle and goats, respectively. In human, Cystic echinococcosis affected more females (54 %) than males (46 %) with a 1.17 male to female ratio. Rate of disease in urban and rural regions were 46 and 54 %, respectively. The youngest and the oldest patient operated were 7 and 87 years old, respectively, and the age group 21-40 years (41.2 %) were the most affected. A significantly higher number of hydatid cysts were recorded in the liver than in other sites. The ratio of hepatic hydatidosis to pulmonary hydatidosis was 2.46. The results showed that hydatidosis is of great importance in this area and serious attention is needed to prevent and control the disease.

Molecular characterization of Cysticercus tenuicollis of slaughtered livestock in Upper Egypt governorates

Objective To present the molecular characterization of Cysticercus tenuicollis (C. tenuicollis) of Taenia hydatigena (T. hydatigena) from livestock isolates in Egypt, and to introduce a detailed image of C. tenuicollis infection in ruminant animals in Upper Egypt. Methods The prevalence rates of C. tenuicollis infections among the slaughtered animals from different organs were determined using the amplification of sequencing of the MT-CO1 gene. Results In the present study the infection rates of C. tenuicollis were found to be 16% and 19% in sheep and goat samples respectively. Firstly we report one larval stage of T. hydatigena detected in the camel liver in Egypt. C. tenuicollis infection manifested a higher prevalence in females than in males. Those above two years of age manifested a higher infection rate than younger animals. The preferred site for the infection was the omentum: a 70% preference in sheep and a 68% preference in goats. The molecular characterization using the MT-CO1 gene of isolates from sheep, goats and camels corresponded to T. hydatigena. For this study, molecular characterizations of T. hydatigena were done for the first time in Egypt. Molecular tools are of great assistance in characterizing the C. tenuicollis parasite especially when the morphological character cannot be detected, because the metacestodes are frequently confused with infection by the hydatid cyst, especially when these occur in the visceral organs. In the present study, C. tenuicollis manifested high identity in the goat and sheep samples, while differences were found more frequently in the camel samples (10 base pair). Conclusions Clearly molecular diagnosis for C. tenuicollis infection significantly helps to differentiate it from such other metacestodes as hydatidosis, which manifests a completely different pathogenicity and requires different control programs.

Liver condemnation and economic losses due to parasitic infections in slaughtered animals in Iran.

The prevalences of parasitic infections responsible for the condemnation of liver during meat inspection, and their economic implication were estimated in slaughtered animals in Iran. The liver organ was examined for the presence of parasitic lesions during meat inspection in cattle, camel, buffalo, sheep and goat. The parasitic agents observed in the condemned livers of these animals were Fasciola spp., Dicrocoelium dendriticum, Cysticercus tenuicollis and hydatid cyst. The average percentages of liver condemnation for three years period by Fasciola spp., D. dendriticum, Cysticerci and hydatid cyst were 2.12, 2.71, 0.04, and 2.88 %, respectively. The mean prevalence of Fasciola spp. in cattle, sheep, goat, camel and buffalo was 4.32, 1.85, 1.56, 1.31 and 9.31 %, respectively and the mean prevalence of D. dendriticum in those animals were 3.65, 2.66, 2.19, 5.09 and 3.90 %, respectively. Also, the mean prevalence of Cysticerci and hydatid cyst were 0.13 and 3.72 % in cattle, 0.04 and 2.85 % in sheep, 0.05 and 2.40 % in goat, 0.02 and 8.22 % in camel and 0.001 and 5.48 % in buffalo, respectively. The most contributing parasites to marketable liver condemnation were hydatid cyst in sheep, goat and camel and Fasciola spp. in cattle and buffalo, and the average annual cost for condemned livers was 8.2 million USD.