DETECTION OF SOME PARASITES IN LIVERS AND SPLEENS OF SLAUGHTERED CATTLE

                                                                                 Assiut University web-site: www.aun.edu.eg

DETECTION OF SOME PARASITES IN LIVERS AND SPLEENS OF SLAUGHTERED CATTLE

WAFAA G. MAHMOUD ¹; NAGWA T. ELSHARAWY ²; ALSHIMAA A. HASSANIEN ³

AND ABEER A. KHEDR ¹

¹ Parasitology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, New Valley University, Egypt

² University of Jeddah, College of Science, Department of Biology, Saudi Arabia

andDepartment of Food Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, New Valley University, Egypt.

³ Department of Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sohag University, Egypt.

Received: 11 December 2019;     Accepted: 29 December 2019

INTRODUCTION

Cattle are one of great economic importance, which is considered the main source of meat, milk and hides in Egypt. Such meat is the most common animal protein for human consumption, so it should be free from diseases particularly parasites (Radwan, 2008). The raring of cattle's is one of the most beneficial industries worldwide. Thus, the total number of cattle in 2013 represented 54 million heads all over the world while in Egypt had about 148 thousand local heads and 4 million 579 thousand foreign heads (ADOD, 2014).

Parasitism is the main cause of cattle production reduction   globally.  Parasites  have  been  noted  the

Corresponding author: Dr. NAGWA T. ELSHARAWY

E-mail address: dr.nagwa2004@yahoo.com

Present address: University of Jeddah, College of Science, Department of Biology, Saudi Arabia andDepartment of Food Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, New Valley University, Egypt.

major constraints to ruminants’ productivity in terms of pathology and economic importance. Several worms are found in the animal, such as trematodes, cestodes,  nematodes, and protozoa (Pam et al., 2013).

Nematodes (roundworms) are worms that infect the ruminants. Large numbers of roundworms can cause a nutritional disturbance. Developing and migrating larvae and feeding adult worms can cause sufficient damage to the animal edible organs. They also interfere with digestion and cause blood losses. Infections of protozoa are common and seen during microscopic examinations. Infected animals are considered carri­ers and possible sources of infection for susceptible animals (Kahn et al., 2010).

The causative agent of East Coast Fever (ECF) is Theileria Parva which one of the tick-borne apicomplexan parasites of wildlife and most domestic animal species, predominantly ruminants, which cause acute lymphoproliferative growth which results in high mortality levels of cattle. Clinically evident as lymph node enlargement, and infiltration of other tissues; the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, by parasitized cells (Morrison, 2015).

T. gondii is an obligate intracellular tissue cyst-forming protozoan; the disease is affecting a wide range of different animal species in Egypt, causing serious economic losses all over the world (Abd El-Razik et al., 2014). In addition, its zoonotic impact especially in pregnant women and immunocompromised persons causing a serious illness (leonard et al., 2019).

Animal grazing habits, pasture management, nutritional deficiency, the immunological status of intermediate vector and host, climates, the number of infective larvae and eggs in the environment were the main routes in the transmission of the parasites. Mature worms’ toxins’ destroy Red Blood Cells, due to which unthrifty anemic conditions are generated. While immature worms migrating through the body tissues of animals open the way for bacteria and fungi to enter, which causes serious diseases (Raza et al., 2013 ).

The losses caused by parasitic infections are in the form of lowered general health condition, retarded growth rate, diminishing the working efficiency, decrease milk and meat production, abortion, and mortality. On the other hand, the cattle may be infected by parasites for a longer period of time in milk or breeding production which resulting in enormous economic losses (Akanda et al., 2014).

The infections are either clinical or subclinical, the latter being the most common and of great economic importance. Although clinical parasitism has received considerable attention as a result of obvious severity (Abouzeid et al., 2010).

Slaughterhouses could be used to monitor the infectious disease status among food animals and play an important role in eliminating various diseases that are not fit for human consumption (Elmonir et al., 2015).

Meat inspection also provides vital data and valuable information on the incidences and prevalence of animal diseases and conditions within any country to prevent the trans­mission of infectious and zoonotic diseases to humans. Well documentation and collection of this information will make changes in animal husbandry practices and disease control (Phiri, 2006).

The aim of the present work is to identify some parasites that affect cattle in New-Valley Governorate which is highly beneficial in planning control measures against these parasites. Hence, a survey of helminths and protozoan parasites is going to be done through; Examination of samples collected from cattle attended El-Kharga abattoir from different localities in New-Valley Governorate, Studying the morphological features by these parasitic stages; Gross appearance and tissue impression smears of digestive system organs to detect different parasitic stages in cattle's.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ethical approval: This study has been approved by the Animal Rights and Ethical Use Committee of New Valley University, Egypt.

The study area: A cross-sectional study was conducted in El-Kharga abattoirs to detect the prevalence of Theileria spp., T. gondii, and Ascaridlarvae infection in slaughtered cattle. El-Kharga city is the capital of New Valley Governorate. It is a part of the oasis, which is located to the west of the Nile Valley between 25.26°N latitude and 30.32°E longitude. El-Kharga abattoir slaughtered about 2540 bovine animals during 2017/2018. About 80 infected liver samples (75 cattle & 5 bovine) and 20 spleen samples (15 cattle & 5 bovine) samples were collected from all cattle and bovine which slaughtered at El-Kharga abattoir during daily inspection for the presence of Theileria spp., T. gondii and Ascarid larvae infection during the period from July 2017 to the end of November 2018.

Samples preparation:

Liver and spleen samples were collected randomly from slaughtered cattleʹs during the period of the experiment. Immediately after opening the carcass, liver and spleen samples were obtained with sterile single-use surgical blades and transferred into sterile plastic bags and examined for the purpose of studying liver and spleen parasites. Each sample was collected in a clean plastic cup and taken directly to the laboratory for examination.

1. Macroscopic examination of liver and spleen: (Griffiths 1978)

Examination performed by the naked eyes during the routine abattoir post mortem examination. The livers & spleen were palpated consistency, color, presence or absence of hemorrhage, presence of mucus or other unusual constituents, were noticed through the examination of samples by the naked eye and dissected for any parasites.

2. Microscopic examination:

2.1. Tissue impression smears: (Maslin and Latimer, 2009)

A total of 100 impression smears from internal organs were made from 20 spleens and 80 livers. These visceral smears were examined after staining with Giemsa stain for the detection of tissue stages of different parasites microscopically under the oil immersion lens.

2.2. Preparation of Giemsa stain (Lawrence and Thomas, 1987)

Stock Giemsa stain was prepared by mixing 3 gm of Giemsa powder with 250 ml Glycerin in a mortar until the powder was dissolved. The mixture was put in a flask and placed in a 60°C water bath for 2 hours, and then 250 ml absolute methyl alcohol was added. The stock solution was stored in a tightly stoppered dark bottle for two to four weeks.

RESULTS

1. Prevalence of parasitic infection in tissue impression smears:

The results of the examination of 100-impression smear of internal organs of cattle are presented in table (1) and figure (1); the total prevalence of Theileria spp. was 62.5% in liver samples and 60 % in spleen samples, while T. gondii was detected in spleen and liver with percentage 10% and 1.25% respectively. Ascarid larvae was detected in 5% of examined cattle only in spleen.

2. Microscopic examination of tissue impression smears:

The inspection of liver and spleen of cattle were found to be infected with a wide variety of protozoa (Theileria spp., T. gondii) and Ascarid larva as following.

2.1. Theileria spp.

The prevalence of Theileria spp. in tissue impression smear tabulated in table (1) was about 62% from the inspected carcass, as following; 50/80 (65.2%) and 12/20 (60%) in liver and spleen respectively.

2.1.1. Morphology of schizonts: Schizonts were seen in smears made from livers (Figure 2; A, B, C & D) and spleens (Figure 2; E & F). Two types of schizonts of Theileria spp., small and large schizonts were observed in spleen and liver smears.

2.1.2. Small schizont: The small schizonts (Figure 2; A & B) in the liver and (Figure 2; E & F) in the spleen. Merozoites in the small schizonts were comma-shaped; the schizonts were not commonly seen inside the host cells. The merozoites in small schizont were varied.

2.1.3. Large schizont: The Large schizonts were located outside the host cell rarely observed inside the host cell. Scattered merozoites were also observed. The sizes of merozoites in these large schizonts were different, some of them being large and some small (Figure 2; C & D).

2.2. Toxoplasma gondii:

The prevalence of T. gondii in tissue impression smear tabulated in the table (1) was about 3% from the inspected carcass, as following; 1/80 (1.25%) and 2/20 (10%) in liver and spleen respectively. The size of tissue cysts was variable, measured from 50 to 70 μm and contains from 16–30 crescent-shaped tachyzoites. The cyst size inside the tissue is dependent on the host cell, cyst age, and the strain of Toxoplasma gondii. In small cysts detected inside host spleen tissue (Figure 3; A) and liver tissue (Figure 3; B) measuring with average 5μm and containing few tachyzoites with vacuoles of different sizes.

2.3. Ascarid larva:

The prevalence of Ascarid larva in tissue impression smear tabulated in the table (1) was about 1% from the inspected carcass, as following; 0/80 (0%) and 1/20 (5%) in liver and spleen respectively. The size of third stage larvae ranging from 0.56-1.07 mm in length and 0.03-0.05 mm in width (Figure 4; A). It is a cone-like structure with thick granular sheath (Figure 4; B).

Table 1: Prevalence of parasitic infection in tissue impression smear.

Figure (1): Histogram showing the prevalence of parasitic infection in tissue impression smear

Figure (2): Microscopic view of smear made from Liver (Fig. A, B “intracellular schizont”, C, D “extracellular schizont” and Spleen (Fig. E, F “intracellular schizont” (x100).

Figure (3): A) Tissue cyst of Toxoplasma gondii in spleen of infected cattle stained by Geimsa stain (X 100)

Figure (3): B) Tissue cyst of Toxoplasma gondii in liver of infected cattle stained by Geimsa stain (X100).

Figure (3): Impression smear of Toxoplasma gondii.

Figure (4): A) Microscopic examination of tissue impression smear showing Ascarid  larva in the spleen (x100)

Figure (4): B) Ascarid larvae showing granular cone at the anterior end (x100).

Figure (4): Ascarid larvaein impression smear.

DISCUSSION

In this study, liver and spleen of inspected cattle were found to be infected with a wide variety of parasites such as; Theileria spp., T. gondii and Ascarid larva. As shown in table (1) and figure (1) the total prevalence rate of Theileria spp. infection inspected carcass was (50/80) 62% in liver & about (12/20) 60% in spleen. Similar result was observed by Usman et al. (2016) in Nigeria, who noticed that the infection rate of cattle was 60.4%. However, Yahaya and Tyav (2014) found that the infection of cattle was 34.9%. The protozoa infections were the most predominant parasites among cattle; the prevalence of identified protozoa was 59.3%. The prevalence rate of protozoa infection differed among studies were higher in cattle farms and villages of EL-Wadi EL-Gadid, Assiut, ELFayoum, EL- Minia and Sohage Governorates which were examined 150 cattle for theileriosis. The infection rates in blood and lymph samples were 65.6% and 45.3%, respectively, while  PCR test showed that 58.3% were positive (Abdel-Rady et al., 2010). In Taiwan, 81.3% for cattle (Huang et al., 2014) and lower results evaluated in the different localities in Upper Egypt were; 17.5% in  Assiut,  20% in Sohag and 40% in El-Wadi El-Gadid Governorates by Abdel-Rady et al., (2008).    A total of 405 cattle were randomly sampled in Menofia Province, Egypt the total prevalence of Theileria sp. in infected cattle was 65 (16.05 %) (Nayel et al., 2012). In Pakistan, 13.62% for cattle (Rafiullah et al., 2011), in India, 10.76% in cattle (Choubisa and Jaroli 2013), and in Cheyyartaluk, 16% (Vanisri et al., 2016). In our results, schizonts were seen in smears made from liver 62.5% and spleen 60%. The presence of schizonts in liver and spleen have been recognized before by Yin et al. (2003) and Kaleibar et al. (2014) in Iran who found Koch’s blue bodies (Macroschizont) on tissue sections of the bone marrow, liver, kidney, and heart.

Theileria spp. responsible for the economically important diseases of domestic and wild animals. Theileria spp. classification based on morphology, host cells in which schizogony occurs, the observation of piroplasms in the red blood cells associated with disease manifestation and host-vector specificity. The genus Theileria is distinguished by infection of leukocytes by sporozoites, maturation of schizonts into merozoites and subsequent infection of red blood cells to form piroplasms (Uilenberg, 2006). The infective stage called sporozoites during tick feeding into the feeding site. Sporozoites then infect leukocytes and multiply, larval or nymphal vector ticks ingest piroplasms and released it in tick gut, were forming a zygote, which divides into motile kinetes and infects the tick gut epithelial cells and migrates to the haemolymph and salivary glands (McKeever, 2009). Theileria epidemiology considers parasite and vector distribution mortality and morbidity of disease outbreaks, disease outbreak risk assessment, and disease control measures, socio-economic factors, climate change, host resistance and susceptibility (Gachohi et al., 2012). Theileria had a clinical disease characterized by theilerial parasitemia, macrocytic normochromic anemia with acanthocytosis and spherocytosis, lymphoid hyperplasia (lymphocytosis, edematous lymphadenomegaly), dysproteinemia, evidence of liver disease, and a low serum antibody titer against Theileria spp. which also can affect the spleen, which developed mild anemia while parasitemic (Alvarado-Equivel et al., 2011).

As shown in table (1) and figure (1) T. gondii was detected in one liver and two spleens of cattle as following; 1/80 (1.25%) and 2/20 (10%) liver & spleen respectively, as the highest rate was observed in spleen. This also agree with Mohammed and Abdullah (2013) in Sulaimani Province, who recognized tissue cysts of T. gondii in liver and spleen stained by Geimsa stain by about 11%. Nearly similar results reported In Bangladesh 12% in spleen of cattle by Shahiduzzaman et al. (2011). Azizi et al. (2014) investigated T. gondii incattle infection in Southwest of Iran by 12% from cattle spleen. A total of 30, 742 individual samples from 24 countries in Africa, the overall estimated prevalence of toxoplasmosis in cattle was 12% (8-17%) (Tonouhewa et al., 2017). Higher results were detected from 88 cows in Egypt, seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis was 17 (19.3%) by Hassanain et al. (2013). In Brazil, about 26% of T. gondii  was detected in beef cattle by Santos et al. (2009).  Lower results estimated by Inpankaew et al. (2010) in Thailand who detected 9.4% of T. gondii infection in cows. T. gondii prevalence in New Caledonia Cattle was 3.3% by Roqueplo et al. (2011). Gharekhani (2013) determined 2.3% of the cattle samples infected with T. gondii in Western Iran. Ahmad and Qayyum, (2014) reported in northern Punjab, Pakistan, about T. gondii infection was 19.75% (79/400) from cattle samples. Matsuo et al. (2014) found T. gondii in 7.3% (31/422) of cattle in Japan. T. gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite that can infect almost all warm-blooded animals, including humans because Toxoplasma gondii can infect a variety of intermediate hosts such as; warm-blooded animals and man. The definitive host for this parasite is feline species. Cat completes the coccidian life cycle with intestinal replication and passage of oocysts in the feces (Robert-Gangneux & Darde, 2012 and Lu, et. al., 2015). Humans infected primarily by intake raw or undercooked meat and offals containing viable tissue cysts, or by ingesting water or food contaminated with oocysts from infected cat feces. In healthy humans, the infection with T. gondii is usually asymptomatic. It causes severe encephalitis and neurologic diseases, and can affect the heart, liver, inner ears, and eyes (chorioretinitis) (Meireles, et. al., 2015).  Primary infections in pregnant women are normally asymptomatic in the mother; but the importance of estimating T.gondii infection in human has a great significance because of the risk of the infection of the fetus, immune compromised hosts and newborns (Baldursson, & Karanis, 2011 and Ahmad, & Qayyum, 2014).

This result showed that five percent of cattle using Giemsa stained impression smear have been infected by Ascarid larva, which was found mainly in spleen. These findings were confirmed by (Strube et al., 2013) who estimated that the larvae do not develop into the adult stage, but rather migrate throughout the somatic tissue and persist as an infectious L3 stage for extensive periods. Those arrested larvae may lead to severe inflammatory reactions and consequently to a wide range of pathological and clinical manifestations. Ascaris has enormous reproductive potential and it has been estimated that a single female may produce more than 1 million eggs per day and remain viable in the soil for at least 6 years and contaminate the environment through fertilizer (Roepstorff et al., 2011). Most Ascarid larvae are expelled from the hepato-tracheal migration animal tissue and probably human hosts and be unobservable by the naked eye which makes it hardly detected in medical and veterinary practice (Nejsum et al., 2009 and Pinelli et al., 2011). Zoonotic Ascaris infection is generally thought to be uncommon in humans in developed countries and associated with the previous residence in, or travel to, endemic areas (Maguire, 2005) or due to foodborne infection (Bendall et al., 2011). Some studies report on Ascaris in lambs with affected livers (Criscione et al., 2007) and lungs due to swine cross-infection migration (Lee et al., 2010).

CONCLUSION

The effect of parasitic diseases remains one of the most important diseases of cattle in New-Valley Governorate and it is the main cause of reduced cattle productivity. In the present study, cattle may be considered as a reservoir host for Toxoplasma human infection which represents a serious human public health problem. The present results provide baseline data for future researchers and control strategies against parasites of cattle. More farmers, veterinarian, and public awareness, education programs, and improvement of post mortem inspection legislation and procedures are recommended. Strategic deworming of animals, when conditions are favorable for larval development on the pasture using broad-spectrum anthelmintic must be applied. All public health measures should be encouraged, including thorough handwashing with soap (particularly for children) and rinsing and cooking of vegetables. Future molecular biological studies are recommended to find out if the Theileria spp., Toxoplasma spp. and Ascarid larvae encountered in New-Valley cattle are pathogenic human genotypes which will represent a serious health problem for populations who comes in contact with cattle.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The authors gratefully thank the managers of ElKharga abattoirs for their help in the examination of the slaughtered animals and providing the samples under the study. This work was financed by the author only and wasn’t carried out within any framework of the project.

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