Hydatid cysts of Echinococcus granulosus were recovered from 27.59% (149/540) of camels Camelus dromedarius from a slaughterhouse in Cairo. The organ distribution of cysts was 57=38.26% in the lung, 65=43.62 % in the liver, 23=15.44 % in both liver and lungs, and 4=2.68% in the other organs such as the brain, tongue, and spleen, etc. The investigation looked at how four compounds from scorpions: chitosan, chitosan nanoparticles (Cs-NPs), venom as well as venom-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (V-CN) affect against in vitro hydatid cyst protoscoleces. Aseptically, cyst fluid protoscoleces were aspirated. Each of the aforementioned compounds was always examined in triplicates at doses of 20, 50, and 100 µg/ml for incubation periods of 30, 60, 120, and 240 min to show its scolicidal effects. Using the 0.1% eosin test, the viability of protoscoleces was determined.
According to the degree of deacetylation (DDA), concentration, exposure period, and size, all compounds demonstrated statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) against the protoscoleces activity. Chitosan and chitosan nanoparticles had a scolicidal action, directly related to DDA and inversely proportional to size. The most effective scolicidal compound was venom-loaded chitosan nanoparticles, which destroyed all protoscoleces at a concentration of 100 µg/ml, after 240 min of incubation.