Prevalence, Molecular Characterization, and Economic Impact of Hydatid Cysts in the Slaughtered Animals in Abattoirs of Minoufyia Governorate, Egypt

The hydatid cyst is considered a hazardous obstacle for public health and the livestock industry. The present investigation sought to ascertain the prevalence of hydatid cysts, histopathology, and economic losses in slaughtered food animals in Egypt's Minoufyia governorate. Furthermore, the molecular characterization of the cysts was performed using an analysis of the NADH dehydrogenase 1 sequence. Visual meat inspection of 6417 slaughtered animal carcasses in Minoufyia Governorate abattoirs was conducted over two years, from March 2019 to February 2021. The prevalence of hydatid cysts in slaughtered animals was 1.48%. The prevalence in different animal carcasses was 1.5% in sheep, 1.33% in cattle, 0.71% in buffaloes, and 9.5% in camels while cyst was not detected in goats. Females had a higher prevalence than males. Autumn had the highest prevalence of hydatid cysts at 0.44%, followed by winter at 0.40%, spring at 0.39%, and summer at 0.25%. The liver and lungs were the most infected organs, with infection rates of 57.9% and 42.1%, respectively. In addition, the histopathology of recovered hydatid cysts was recorded. The sequence analysis of NADH dehydrogenase revealed that the sequence of camel and cattle is E. canadensis and the buffalo sequence is E. ortleppi. The phylogenetic tree revealed that Echinococcus canadensis from Egyptian camels and cattle belonged to the same taxon as genotypes 6-10 of the E. granulosus complex. The E. ortleppi sequence from Egyptian buffalo was found in the same clade as genotype 5 of the E. granulosus complex. The economic costs of organ condemnation amounted to 47320 EGP. The results of this survey present the prevalence, economic impact, and molecular characterization of hydatid cysts from animals in Minoufyia governorate, Egypt.  Strict hygienic measures are needed to control this infection in food animals and humans.