پردیس کشاورزی و منابع طبیعی دانشگاه تهران Iranian Journal of animal Science 2008-4773 56 4 2025 12 22 Prevalence of Linguatula serrata infestation in slaughtered sheep and goats at Tabriz abattoir during 2023–2024 Prevalence of Linguatula serrata infestation in slaughtered sheep and goats at Tabriz abattoir during 2023–2024 907 913 103339 10.22059/ijas.2025.394904.654076 FA Nasser Hajipour Department of Food Hygiene and Aquatic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Iran 0000-0001-5387-8261 Journal Article 2025 05 11 Linguatula serrata is an important zoonotic parasite whose nymphal stage resides in the liver, lungs, and mesenteric lymph nodes of small ruminants as intermediate hosts, while the adult form inhabits the nasal sinuses of carnivores, including dogs. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of nymphal L. serrata infestation in sheep and goats slaughtered at the Tabriz industrial abattoir. Over the course of one year, from April 2023 to April 2024, a total of 4000 mesenteric lymph nodes were collected from 800 animals (400 sheep and 400 goats) and examined morphologically for the presence of nymphs. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test in SPSS software version 26. Results showed that 14.8% of the animals and 8.85% of the lymph nodes were infested. The prevalence was significantly higher in goats (19.3%) than in sheep (10.3%) (p<0.05). Infestation rates were significantly higher in females than males for both species. In goats, the prevalence increased significantly with age (p=0.009), while in sheep, this trend was not statistically significant. Additionally, higher infestation rates were observed during the colder seasons, especially autumn (p<0.05). Overall, the results suggest that the prevalence of L. serrata nymph infestation in slaughtered sheep and goats in Tabriz was lower than some previous reports from the region, possibly indicating a decreasing trend. These findings highlight the importance of control measures and continuous monitoring to prevent this zoonotic parasitic infection. Linguatula serrata is an important zoonotic parasite whose nymphal stage resides in the liver, lungs, and mesenteric lymph nodes of small ruminants as intermediate hosts, while the adult form inhabits the nasal sinuses of carnivores, including dogs. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of nymphal L. serrata infestation in sheep and goats slaughtered at the Tabriz industrial abattoir. Over the course of one year, from April 2023 to April 2024, a total of 4000 mesenteric lymph nodes were collected from 800 animals (400 sheep and 400 goats) and examined morphologically for the presence of nymphs. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test in SPSS software version 26. Results showed that 14.8% of the animals and 8.85% of the lymph nodes were infested. The prevalence was significantly higher in goats (19.3%) than in sheep (10.3%) (p<0.05). Infestation rates were significantly higher in females than males for both species. In goats, the prevalence increased significantly with age (p=0.009), while in sheep, this trend was not statistically significant. Additionally, higher infestation rates were observed during the colder seasons, especially autumn (p<0.05). Overall, the results suggest that the prevalence of L. serrata nymph infestation in slaughtered sheep and goats in Tabriz was lower than some previous reports from the region, possibly indicating a decreasing trend. These findings highlight the importance of control measures and continuous monitoring to prevent this zoonotic parasitic infection.

https://ijas.ut.ac.ir/article_103339_543eaffbd4f380f5b1fd6c5ded609023.pdf