Infestation of small ruminants by the metacestode stage of Taenia hydatigena in slaughterhouse, North East Tunisia

BACKGROUND: Cysticercus tenuicollis (larvae of Taenia hydatigena) is a frequent cosmopolitan endoparasite of ruminants. The infestation by this parasite is underestimated since it is neither zoonotic nor inducing high economic losses in the sheep sector. METHODS: This study aimed at estimating different parasitological indicators, Cysticercus tenuicollis infestation in small ruminants using a slaughterhouse-based survey in Northeast Tunisia. A total number of 3,692 sheep and 78 goats were examined in the slaughterhouse of Menzel Temime. RESULTS: The overall prevalence was estimated to be 2.8 (106/3692) and 8.9% (7/78) in sheep and goats, respectively. The abundance in these two species was 0.24 and 0.05 and the intensity 1.97 and 2.85, respectively. In goats, all the cysts were found in the mesentery, whilst, in sheep, the majority were in mesentery (96%) but also on the liver in 2% of the cases and in both organs (2%). There were only cysts with aqueous liquid with predominantly middle-sized cysts (1 to 3 cm) corresponding to 63.15 and 70.34% in sheep and goats, respectively. CONCLUSION: Since, in small ruminants, the infestation by C. tenuicollis indicators are not high, low cost control measures should be implemented to eliminate this parasite in Northeast Tunisia.