The present investigation was conducted (during PM examination of the slaughtered
carcasses) to assess the prevalence of hydatidosis in camels sacrificed in Assuit Governorate
Egypt and to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of Indirect Enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in identifying camels infected with hydatid cysts before
slaughtering using antigens were precipitated from HCF. Hydatid cyst count and
characterization were conducted based on routine meat inspection. Slaughterhouse
samples of 200 camels were collected through weekly visits. Hydatid cysts in livers, lungs
and kidneys were detected and counted, also the fertility rate of the cysts was examined.
Out of these, 12 (6%) were found to harbour hydatid cyst, in livers 9(75%), lungs 2(17%)
and kidney 1(8%).On the other side, fertile cysts 5(41.7%) were found more frequently in
livers 4(33.3%) than in lungs 1(8.3%), while sterile cysts7(58.3%) found in livers, lungs and
kidneys 5(41.7%), 1(8.1) and 1(8.3%) respectively. In addition to PM examination, Enzymelinked immunosorbent assay test (ELISA) was developed to the same camels for serological
detection of hydatid cyst infection but in alive state. 16(8%) of the 200 camels were found
harbouring hydatid cysts were serologically positive when screened for hydatidosis by
ELISA test. Four animals (2%) out of the 188 non-infected camels gave serologically
positive result. It is suggested that the ELISA as a serological assay, is a valuable method
with high diagnostic efficiency for serodiagnosis of hydatid disease. The public health
importance of hydatidosis as well as some recommended measures for controlling of the
disease were discussed.