author(s)
Nadjet Amina Ouchene-Khelifi and Nassim Ouchene

abstract
The present study was carried out in abattoirs at northeast Algeria and concerned 420 carcasses, including 256 sheep and 164 goats were examined for the presence of Cysticercus tenuicollis. Biochemical analysis was also conducted on ten C. tenuicollis cysts from each species and concerned: glucose, urea, creatinine, cholesterol, triglycerides, calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium. C. tenuicollis cysts were found in 24.21% of sheep and 43.90% of goats carcasses. Prevalence in goats was higher compared to sheep (P˂0.001). Biochemical parameters contents were very close between sheep and goats. Excepting for creatinine and calcium, contents in goats (52.30±0.88 µmol/l and 12.63±0.31 mmol/l, respectively) were higher than sheep (29.39±6.42 µmol/l and 4.46±1.76 mmol/l, respectively) (P˂0.0001). Infection by C. tenuicollis affects significantly the carcasses weight of sheep and goats. In weightier carcasses (31-40 kg), the prevalence of infestation (4.83% in sheep and 5.55% in goats) and the number of cysts isolated (4 in sheep and 12 in goats) were lowest (P˂0.0001). The present study represents the first report on Cysticercus tenuicollis infection in small ruminants and biochemical profile of cysts fluid, in Algeria. The results suggest that cysticercosis is common in Algeria, and that this may constitute economic and health problems in the meat industry.