First report of Taenia ovis infection in Danish sheep (Ovis aries)

Prevalence of Taenia ovis (sheep measles) in small ruminants slaughtered by unlicensed butchers in Iraq capital city

This study was aimed at investigating the prevalence of Taenia ovis (sheep measles) in sheep and goats among the unlicensed butcher's settings in Bagdad, Iraq. A total of 1194 sheep comprising 798 males and 396 females were inspected and out of these 41 and 17 (5.1 and 4.2%) were positive of T. ovis respectively. In goat a total of 162 comprising 122 males and 40 females were inspected out of which 39 and 19 (31.9 and 47.5%) were positive for T. ovis for male and female respectively. In this study, the prevalence of T. ovis in sheep of <18 months of age (5.3%) was higher as compared to those in sheep of over 18 months of age (4.9%), the prevalence of T. ovis was higher in male sheep (5.1%) as compared to the female sheep (4.2%). The trend of the prevalence of this parasite in goats was different from what was obtained in sheep, in this case the prevalence was higher in female goats as compared to male goats. Also the prevalence of T. ovis was significantly higher in older goats as compared to younger goats. For the breed the trend was similar to that of sheep where the local breed harbored more of T. ovis as compared to the imported breeds. Our results suggest that the high prevalence of the T. ovis infestations in the unlicensed butcher's settings is of great concern for public health, therefore authorities are to design a preventive program to curtail this problem.

Taenia ovis in Small Ruminants in Iran: Prevalence, Pathology, and Economic Loss

Taenia ovis larvae can result in economic losses in small ruminants due to condemnation of infected tissues or whole carcasses. From 2017 to 2018, the T. ovis prevalence in 16,180 sheep and 7560 goats at the Najafabad slaughterhouse in Isfahan was determined. More sheep (477; 2.9%) than goats (90; 1.2%) were found to be infected, and the prevalence was higher in animals <1 y (p < 0.0001), and higher in spring in sheep (8.2%) and goats (2.2%). Female sheep were more frequently infected than males (p < 0.0001); this did not hold true for goats. Of the tissues examined, T. ovis was found more often in the heart muscle of sheep compared with other tissues; however, infections in the heart muscle, masseter muscle, diaphragm, and triceps were similar in goats. Granulomas and caseous necrosis in the heart muscles were associated with the accumulation of mononuclear inflammatory cells and the formation of fibrous tissue around the parasite. Based solely on infected tissues found in this study, the economic loss caused by the presence of T. ovis larvae was estimated to be 4167 United States dollars (USD). Control methods, such as proper disposal of infected tissues and anthelmintic treatment of infected dogs, are necessary to decrease infection and prevent economic loss in small ruminants.