A Study for The Partial Determination of The Prevalence of A Molecular Disease of Cystic Echinococcosis From The Slaughter of One-humped Camel “Camelus Dromedarius” In Beheira, Egypt.

Abstract

APEWORMS of the genus Echinococcus are the cause of the zoonotic disease known as cystic echinococcosis (CE). This work aimed to detect the prevalence, the fertility of cysts, the viability of protoscolices, as well as the molecular and phylogenetic analysis of CE infecting one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Beheria, Egypt. Between August 2022 and July 2023, 156 camels at the Kom Hamada abattoir were checked for the presence of hydatid cysts during routine meat inspection. Using phylogenetic analysis of the Cox1 and Nad1 sequences, the cysts were molecularly identified. The overall prevalence in slaughtered animals was 16.67%. The prevalence in the liver and lungs was 3.85% and 96.15%, respectively. Spring had the highest prevalence (28.11%). The fertility rate was 72.22%. The viability rate was 87.5% from fertile lung cysts. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the existence of Echinococcus canadensis (E. granulosus G6). The study area had a high prevalence of CE in one-humped camels in the study area, which requires the implementation of an active control program. Moreover, our data confirms that the genotype involved is E. canadensis. Further studies on CE in camels and other ruminants in Egypt should be carried out to illustrate factors associated with this disease.