An Outbreak of Bovine Cysticercosis in Kanagawa Prefecture

Abstract

Seventy-one female beef cattle aged 2 to 3 years, from a stock farm in Kanagawa Prefecture were examined between July 1993 and March 1994, and 59 (83.1%) were found to be densely infected with Cysticercus bovis. Worm bladders 1×1 to 11.5mm in size, in the muscles and organs were light gray to light brown in color. Parasitized sites were: heart (67/71; 94%), masseter (54/69; 78%), diaphragm (58/70; 83%), tongue (29/69; 42%), lung (28/69; 41%), liver (21/69; 30%), tail (19/69; 28%), and digestive tract (6/28; 21%). Among dressed carcasses, the incidence was highest in the shoulder (92%), followed by the thigh (82%), flank (74%), neck (69%), thoratic part (72%), lower thigh (54%), and rump (46%).