title: Prevalence and pathological lesions of ovine cysticercosis in slaughtered sheep in western Iran.
abstract: Cysticercusovis, the intermediate stage of a canine tapeworm,Taenia ovis, produces cystic lesions in the skeletal and cardiac muscle of sheep which, if numerous, will result in the condemnation of an entire carcass. This study was carried out between March 2013 and March 2014 to estimate the prevalence ofTaenia oviscysticercosisin sheep slaughtered at the Kermanshah municipal abattoir, in western Iran. Of 69,198 sheep examined, 833 (1.27 %) were infected with cysticerci ofTaenia ovis.The prevalence ofC. oviswas significantly higher in males than females (P< 0.05). Seasonal analysis revealed significantly higher prevalence in spring (1.8 %) than other seasons (P< 0.005). The heart muscles (29.7 %), diaphragm (18.8 %), masseter muscles (18.2 %) and tongue (15.5 %) were the main predilection sites of the cysts. The cysts ofovinecysticercosiswere also identified on the triceps, intercostal muscles, thigh muscles, intestinal mucosa, liver and Spleen. This parasite caused extensive damage resulting in infiltrative, degenerative changes, necrosis and exudation mainly in the vicinity of cysts. The results indicate that the prevalence ofC. ovisin this area is high. Therefore improving the standard of disease prevention and control on farms is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Razi University, P.O. Box: 67156-85414, Kermanshah, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hashemnia
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.
authors.forename: Yasser
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shahbazi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Lorestan University, Khorram Abad, Iran.
authors.forename: Ghasem
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Frajani Kish
keywords: Cysticercusovis; Iran; Kermanshah; Pathology; Prevalence