Prevalence and pathological lesions of ovine cysticercosis in slaughtered sheep in western Iran

Cysticercus ovis, 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 of Taenia ovis cysticercosis in sheep slaughtered at the Kermanshah municipal abattoir, in western Iran. Of 69,198 sheep examined, 833 (1.27 %) were infected with cysticerci of Taenia ovis. The prevalence of C. ovis was 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 of ovine cysticercosis were 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 of C. ovis in this area is high. Therefore improving the standard of disease prevention and control on farms is necessary.