Cysticercus bovis

Cysticercus bovis infection in cattle is a notifiable disease
Suspect Cysticercus bovis lesions in cattle carcasses at an abattoir will be sent for histopathological examination
Contact Customer Service to notify the laboratory when submitting samples for testing.

Cysticercus bovis is a larval cestode that occurs in cattle and occasionally other herbivores. It preferentially infects heart and masticatory muscles, although cysts can occur in liver, lungs and lymph nodes. C. bovis causes small cysts in cattle following ingestion of feed contaminated with C. bovis eggs passed by humans. The tissue cysts are the intermediate stage of the human tapeworm (Taenia saginata). Ingested eggs hatch in the small intestine, the embryos penetrate the bowel wall and are carried via the bloodstream to muscle, where they develop into cysts.

Diagnosis and tests available

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is supported by history, clinical signs, pathology and supportive tests

Click on + in the tables below for sampling requirements and additional test information

	Code	Name	Samples required	Species	Turnaround time	Price (excl. GST)	Notes	Test days
	HIST_HE1	Cysticercus bovis (histopathology)	Samples fixed in 10% formalin solution or upon negotiation with the lab	Bovine, other species	5D	$84.95	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	Monday – Friday

Additional Information

Specimen requirements

Fixed tissues
Muscle (skeletal or heart) from areas with lesions submitted fixed in neutral buffered formalin at a 10:1 ratio of formalin.
Fresh tissues
A fresh pair of nitrile/latex examination gloves should be worn before handling fresh tissues, to prevent cross contamination PCR on fresh tissues is available from an outsource laboratory. Muscle (skeletal or heart) from areas with lesions submitted chilled and/or in 80% ethanol

Fact Sheet

Cysticercus bovis factsheet (PDF, 197.65 KB)

Customer Service

Contact Customer Service for enquiries relating to testing and results, quotations and pricing, couriers, sample submission and invoicing.

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CONTACT DETAILS
Phone	1800 675 623
Email	laboratory.services@dpird.nsw.gov.au
Operating Hours	8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday (excluding public holidays) 8:30am-12:00pm Saturday (for deliveries only)
Postal Address	Private Bag 4008, Narellan NSW 2567

Quotations

For Animal export, Plant health or Veterinary quotations, please complete the online quotation request

Submission Forms

Veterinary Specimen Advice Form

Please Note: These documents are not fully web accessible, please contact Customer Service (laboratory.services@dpird.nsw.gov.au) for more information.

Courier services and specimen delivery

For NSW submissions, please contact the relevant Customer Service team for courier account details and to order consignment notes.

For submitters outside of NSW, Couriers can be contacted directly to make bookings and arrange collection of packages at the submitters own cost.

Commercial couriers may use either road or air transport and specimens should therefore be packed in accordance with International Air Transport Association (IATA) requirements. Most submission sent by veterinarians to the APHL for testing are defined as “Biological Substance Category B” and must be packed according to the IATA packing instructions 650 (Biological Substance Category B). As requirements for transport can change, customers should consult with their transport agent to obtain current requirements.

Samples may also be hand delivered to the site during normal business hours (8.30am - 4.30pm).

Sample Type	Laboratory	Street Address
Animal (including aquatic animals)	NSW Animal and Plant Health Laboratories (APHL)	EMAI, Woodbridge Road, Menangle NSW 2568