Morphological and molecular characterization based on ITS-2 of Moniezia expansa Rudolphi, 1810 (Anoplocephalidae) isolated from the intestine of sheep, Ovis aries (Bovidae) from Egypt

Abstract One hundred and twenty small intestines of sheep obtained from the Basateen Automated Slaughterhouse in Cairo, Egypt, between February 2021 and May 2021 were examined for cestodes. The cestode observed was Moniezia expansa (10.8%). It was measured 175–200 cm in length and varied in width according to the maturation of proglottids. Scolex was measured 0.75–0.88 mm in size and composed of a clear apical region without a rostellum. It had four conspicuous suckers with diameters of 0.25–0.31 mm. Scolex was followed by an unsegmented neck and proglottids. Proglottids were substantially wider than they were long. The immature proglottids measured 0.35–0.60 mm in length and 1.97–3.20 mm in width, without obvious structures. While mature proglottids were measured 0.70–1.40 mm in length and 6.75–8.25 mm in width and possess completely formed reproductive organs. The gravid proglottids were measured 1.38–4.43 mm in length and 14.25–16.75 mm in width, packed with eggs, and came towards the end of the strobila. PCR amplification produced a fragment of approximately 800 bp in size. The analyses showed distinct genotypes with sequence identities that ranged from 98.90–100% when compared to the GenBank sequences of M. expansa. The variation of evolutionary divergences was extended from 0.000 to 1.356 for Moniezia spp. and another genus of cestodes. Based on morphological traits and molecular analyses, the currently isolated worms were confirmed as M. expansa.