PREVALENCE OF LINGUATULA SERRATA IN THE RUMINANTS SLAUGHTERED IN URMIA SLAUGHTERHOUSE, IRAN

Linguatula serrata is a cosmopolitan parasite which has been reported in Iran. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to determine the prevalence of linguatulosis in ruminants and its association with the age and sex of infected animals. For this purpose, mesenteric lymphatic nodes (MLNs) and liver of 2721 slaughtered animals including 623 cattle, 784 buffaloes, 787 sheep and 527 goats at Urmia abattoir were collected during seven months. Isolation and counting of parasite nymphs were performed by massaging MLNs. The collected livers were blended and incubated in 0.5% pepsin acid. The results revealed the existence of the parasite in both MLNs and livers of investigated animals. Infection of MLNs and liver with L. serrata in sheep (65.79% and 32.28%) was more than goats (59.78% and 5.46%). The infection rate of MLNs was 47.5% in goats with the age of over three year-olds and it was 0.7% in the liver of cattle with the age of over four year-olds. Average number of collected nymphs in MLNs recorded 1-45. There was a significant positive correlation between the infection with L.serrata and the age of animals (p<0.05). The infection of MLNs and livers with L. serrata were independent of sex in each age group. A significant difference was observed between the prevalence of L. serrata in males and females (p<0.05). It was concluded that consumption of raw or under-cooked ruminants liver may be resulted in nasopharyngeal linguatulosis (Halzoun syndrome) in human beings in the area.