Veterinary
Taban Khosravi; Hassan Nayebzadeh; Azadeh Rashidimehr; Majid Hataminia
Abstract
Parasitic infections like hydatid cysts, Dicrocelium, and Fasciola are common among humans and livestock and can significantly impact sheep health. For this purpose, this study was conducted to determine the prevalence of hydatid cyst, Dicrocelium dendriticum and Fasciola spp. in slaughtered sheep in ...
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Parasitic infections like hydatid cysts, Dicrocelium, and Fasciola are common among humans and livestock and can significantly impact sheep health. For this purpose, this study was conducted to determine the prevalence of hydatid cyst, Dicrocelium dendriticum and Fasciola spp. in slaughtered sheep in Khorramabad city during the second six months of 1401 and to investigate the environmental factors of temperature, rainfall and season on the incidence of these infections. During six months at the Gulshan Dam slaughterhouse, a total of 56,262 sheep underwent macroscopic inspection. Some infected samples were examined microscopically after being transferred to the laboratory. Information about age, sex, and infected organs was recorded through a prepared questionnaire. Prevalence of hydatid cyst, Dicrocoelium dendriticum, and Fasciola spp. in sheep was 12.43% (6996/56262), 7.63% (4295/ 56262), and 3.03% (1710/56262), respectively. The study revealed that hydatid cyst in both liver and lung was the most common parasitic infection found in the slaughtered sheep. Moreover, there was a statistically significant relationship between temperature and the prevalence of Dicrocoelium and hydatid cysts in the lung (p<0.05), as well as with season and rainfall. These factors showed a strong correlation with the incidence rate of Dicrocoelium and hydatid cysts. Climatic factors have a relative impact on the prevalence of platyhelminth infection in this city. In light of the relatively high prevalence of these platyhelminths in slaughtered sheep, policymakers, managers, and health experts need to develop an effective approach in this field.
