No abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence, organ distribution, morphological characters and economic importance of Cysticercus ovis and Cysticercus tenuicollis in sheep and goats. A total of 669 sheep and 484goats slaughtered at Aswan Slaughterhouse were carefully examined for these metacestodes. Cysticercus ovis was detected (1.94%) from slaughtered sheep. Cysticercus tenuicollis was found (13.3%) in sheep and (24.2%) in goats. The prevalence of both C.ovis and C.tenuicollis was higher in females than males and their prevalence was higher in older animals compared to the younger ones. For Cysticercus ovis, the highest infection was found in spring while the highest seasonal infection rate of Cysticercus tenuicollis in slaughtered sheep and goats was noted in autumn season. The infection with C.ovis was only found in the heart, while C.tenuicollis in slaughtered sheep and goats was found mainly in the omentum. These results suggest that the high prevalence of the metacestodes infection in this area is a great concern for both medical and veterinary authorities to design therapeutic and preventive programs to overcome this problem.