Epidemiological study on bovine cystic echinococcosis in an endemic focus of Türkiye: ten-year trends, abattoir surveillance, and molecular characterization

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a significant zoonotic infection caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato , and it is a serious public health problem in Türkiye. The study aims to determine the current prevalence of bovine CE in Erzurum, to identify its molecular genotypes, and to analyze long-term trends in infection prevalence. A total of 1,241 slaughtered cattle were examined, and the CE prevalence was 24.09% (299/1,241). The lungs were the most frequently infected organ, with a rate of 93.31% ( p < 0.05). The study revealed that the highest infection rates were observed in cattle over 5 years of age and in females ( p < 0.05). The vast majority of infected cattle exhibited single cysts (73.24%) ( p < 0.05), with cyst diameters ranging from 1 to 15 cm. Medium-sized cysts (2–5 cm) were predominant in 73.06% of cases ( p < 0.05). Microscopic examinations revealed that the fertility rate of cysts was 9.25%. Cyst fertility significantly increased with cyst size ( p < 0.05). A molecular analysis of 105 selected cyst samples targeting the 12 S rRNA and COI gene regions identified all isolates as E. granulosus sensu stricto . The epidemiological data from the last thirty years demonstrate a decrease in the prevalence rate of approximately 10% per decade in the region, with a decline from 46.4% to 24.09%. Consequently, in order to maintain the current downward trend in prevalence observed in CE endemic regions and to minimize public health risks, it is crucial to implement comprehensive control programs based on a ‘One Health’ approach and to continue periodic epidemiological studies to monitor the parasite’s status in hosts.