Histopathological and Molecular Characterization of Heterophyids in Fish and Attitude Towards Parasitic Zoonosis among Residents in Kafrelsheikh Governorate, Egypt
Histopathological and Molecular Characterization of Heterophyids in Fish and Attitude Towards Parasitic Zoonosis among Residents in Kafrelsheikh Governorate, Egypt
Samah Abou Asa1, Omnia Tag2 and Walid Elmonir2*
ABSTRACT
Heterophyiasis is a wide-spread yet under-recognized public health issue in Egypt, especially in regions close to major northern Lakes as Kafrelsheikh Governorate, Egypt. The current study aimed to utilize molecular and histopathological techniques to detect encysted metacercariae (EMC) of Heterophyids in mullet (n= 50) and tilapia (n= 50) fish and describe their pathological effect on fish meat quality. Also, knowledge, attitude and practices (KAPs) related to fish-borne parasitic zoonoses among 100 residents in Kafrelsheikh Governorate were also investigated. The overall prevalence of EMC infection in examined fish was 32% (32/100): 44% (22/50) in mullet and 20% (10/50) in tilapia fish samples. The EMC were 3 times more likely detected in mullet fish compared to tilapia fish (OR= 3.1, P= 0.01). The heterophyids EMC were molecularly confirmed in 32% (16/50) and 18% (9/50) of mullet and tilapia fish samples, respectively. The EMC infection in fish was associated with muscle degeneration, fragmentation, and hyalinization, and mononuclear cell infiltrations, were morphological characteristics of EMC-infected muscles. In mullet fish the lesions were more severe and the EMC were embedded in intermuscular fat. These pathological lesions highlight the poor meat quality of infected fish especially mullet species. Only few residents (14%) had knowledge about Heterophyiasis in the study area. Residents also reported many risk practices as consuming fresh without prior freezing (92.7%), salting fish for less than 10 days (50%), and cooking fish for less than 10 min (2.3%). Health education for residents and infection control in fish are mandate preventive measures in the study area.
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