Myiasis among slaughtered animals in Kashan, Iran: describing a veterinary entomological problem in the tropics

Myiasis is a common veterinary entomology problem in many slaughterhouses in the tropics.The prevalence of myiasis among slaughtered cattlewas investigated in Kashan Abattoir, central Iran, in 2009. All kinds of dipterous larvae that may cause myiasis were collected and identified.Thenthe prevalence of each infestation was analyzed by statistical tests. The results of the study revealed a total of 4 species of dipterous larvae belonged to two families of Sarcophagidae and Oestridae. The identified species were the following ones: Family Oestridae: Hypodermalineatum (61.4%), Hypodermaovis (12.6%), Oestrusovis (22.7%) and Family Sarcophagidae: Wohlfahrtiamagnifica (3.8%).Of the 7736 examined animals, 2.5% of goats and 0.5% of sheep were infested by any kinds of dipterous larvae. Statistical comparisons were made between the sex of host species and occurrence of myiasis, infested animals and species of larvae, the infested body parts of the host, and finally between the prevalence and origin of the cattle. Statistically the possibility of infestation of goats was 1.43 times more than sheep (odds ratio=1.43). These findingscan be considered by officials to keep the human and animal myiasis under control. There is also need to investigate the prevalence and incidence of animal myiasis in other parts of the country to clarify the spread of infestation in the country and in the region.