o:8580 Meat industry as our best chance for controlling transmission of a tiny but deadly tapeworm en Echinoccocosis is a zoonotic disease which can have severe, even lethal consequences for the host, yet multiple effective means of controlling transmission and thus preventing infec- tion, are available. Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis are the two tapeworm species which are clinically most relevant in Europe and both are endemic in the Balkans. The life cycle of the tapeworm includes intermediate and dead-end hosts, ungulates and humans, as well as definitive hosts, the Canidae and Felidae. Disease caused by E. multilocu- laris, alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is more severe and also difficult to diagnose, especially in animals. Echinococcosis in livestock leads to morbidity and mortality, thereby facilitating economic losses at various levels. Reporting is mandatory, yet under-reporting is a common occurrence as is the failure to identify relevant geographical transmission foci in a timely manner, thus contributing to continuous tapeworm transmission and spread. As echinococ- cosis is a foodborne disease in animals and humans, the food industry, and particularly the meat industry, are key stakeholders in raising awareness, lobbying government authorities for control measures and improved diagnostics. Foodborne disease, Livestock, Ungulates, Parasite, Environment 1552099 10.18485/meattech.2025.66.3.10 2025-12-03T09:16:20.416Z 44 yes 46 Aleksandra Uzelac University of Belgrade, Institute for Medical Research, Bulevar Oslobođenja 18, 11129 Belgrade, Serbia Meat industry as our best chance for controlling transmission of a tiny but deadly tapeworm https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1424-0123 Katarina Breka University of Belgrade, Faculty of Biology, Studentski Trg 16, 11158 Belgrade, Serbia Meat industry as our best chance for controlling transmission of a tiny but deadly tapeworm person https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8775-8057 Milica Kuručki University of Belgrade, Faculty of Biology, Studentski Trg 16, 11158 Belgrade, Serbia Meat industry as our best chance for controlling transmission of a tiny but deadly tapeworm person https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8060-9139 Tijana Kukurić University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Agriculture, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 8, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia Meat industry as our best chance for controlling transmission of a tiny but deadly tapeworm person https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2561-8555 Jelena Karanović University of Belgrade, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, Vojvode Stepe 444a, Belgrade, Serbia Meat industry as our best chance for controlling transmission of a tiny but deadly tapeworm person https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6291-5527 Nikola Betić Institute for Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, Belgrade, Serbia Meat industry as our best chance for controlling transmission of a tiny but deadly tapeworm person https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7375-6752 application/pdf 541882 https://unilib.phaidrabg.rs/o:8580 no yes 19 70 92000001 71A01 Meat technology - Special Issue 66/3 2025 1-576 66 3 70 75 Kaćanskog 13, 11 000 Belgrade Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology 2025-12-01 www.journalmeattechnology.com