Parasitic affections of edible offales of slaughtered animals at El-Shohada abattoir, Monofia governorate, Egypt

Abstract

A total of 5853 animals slaughtered at El-Shohada abattoir, Menoufia governorate, Egypt represented by 670 camel, 340 cattle, 366 buffalo, 3188 young cattle, 502 young buffalo, 544 sheep and 243 goats were inspected from 21 Dec., 2017 to 20 Dec., 2018 to evaluate the incidence of some parasitic infections (Hydatidosis, Fascioliasis, Cysticercosis and Sarcocystosis) according to seasonal variation. Otherwise, the study aimed to detect the microscopic form of sarcosystic affection in 18 esophageal samples from 6 buffalo (3 suspected and 3 apparently healthy), 3 cattle, 3 sheep, 3 goats and 3 camel by using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The incidence of hydatidosis was 18%, 0.3% and 0.5% in camel, cattle and buffalo, respectively while it couldn't be detected in young cattle, young buffalo, sheep and goat. The highest total incidence of hydatidosis was recorded in winter (13%). The incidence of fascioliasis was 0.9% in camel, 0.8% in buffalo, 1.2% in cattle and 0.1% in young cattle, but it couldn't be detected in young buffalo, sheep and goat. The cysticercosis couldn't be detected in edible offals of slaughtered animals during the period of the study. Sarcocyst fusiforms was detected in edible offals (22.9% in esophagus and 3.7% in tongue) of 62.8% of buffaloes and 0.2% of the young ones with the highest incidence (42%) was recorded in autumn. PCR reading showed that all 3 samples confirmed positive for suspected buffaloes, one of 3 samples confirmed positive for apparently healthy buffaloes, one of three samples confirmed positive for cattle, 2 of 3 samples confirmed positive for sheep, one of 3 samples confirmed positive for goat and three samples were confirmed negative for camel. The present study concluded that there is a need to educate consumers, food handlers and all others who have access to food about the importance of hygiene and it is necessary for cooking food properly.