Hydatidosis in Menoufia's three Abattoirs, Egypt: Epidemiological, Histopathological, Economic, and Molecular Insights in Cattle and Buffaloes

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the prevalence, economic losses, molecular characterization, and histopathology of hydatid cysts in slaughtered cattle and buffaloes across three abattoirs (Al-Shuhada, Ashmoun, and Khalij Al-Arab) in Menoufia governorate, Egypt over two years from March 2021 to May 2023. The overall prevalence of hydatid cysts was 0.96%, with cattle exhibiting a substantially higher prevalence rate (1.05%) compared to buffaloes (0.55%). The higher prevalence rate was observed in older female cattle (1.90%). The liver exhibited a greater predilection site for infection (0.63%) versus the lungs (0.33%). Our study estimated economic losses due to organ condemnation totaled 50600 EGP. Morphological and histopathological examinations were recorded. PCR and Sequence analysis of NADH dehydrogenase gene showed that the sequence of hydatid cyst from slaughtered cattle in the present study was E. ortleppi. It had high identity percent (93.33%-99.57%) with sequences of E. ortleppi from Egypt,