title: Morphological and morphometrical description of trichostrongylus species isolated from domestic ruminants in khuzestan province, southwest iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Genus Trichostrongylus (Nematoda: Trichostrongylidae) is one of the most important zoonotic nematodes with wide geographic distribution in the world. The purpose of the present study was to describe morphological and morphometrical characteristics of male Trichostrongylus species, currently prevalent in domestic ruminants of Khuzestan Province, southwest Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gastro-intestinal organs of 1600 sheep, goats, cattle, and buffalos, slaughtered in Khuzestan Province, southwest Iran, were examined for infectivity with Trichostrongylus species. For examination and measurements of helminthes, Azo-carmine staining was performed, followed by camera lucida drawings of morphological characters and measurements of morphometrical criteria with a calibrated microscope. Using valid nematodes systematic keys, almost all the parasites were identified at the level of species.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 114 animals were found infected with at least one species of Trichostrongylus. Considering morphological characteristics of male Trichostrongylus, six species were identified including T. colubriformis, T. vitrinus, T. probolorus, T. capricola, T. longispicularis and Trichostrongylus sp.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although, compared to the previous decades, currently Trichostrongylus is much less prevalent in the domestic ruminants of the study area, but still different species occur in these animals.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ghasemikhah
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mirhendi
authors.forename: Eb
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kia
authors.forename: Gh
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mowlavi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sarmadian
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meshgi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Golestan
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mobedi