ABSTRACT
Linguatula serrata, is a cosmopolitan zoonotic parasite. Adult of L. serrrata parasitize the nasopharynx of canids. Consuming raw glandular material of infected intermediate hosts [camel, sheep, cattle, goat, etc.] can infect human. In Iran, two-humped camel is merely found in cold regions [Ardabil and East Azarbijan provinces] and is in danger of extinction. A seven-year-old two-humped male camel, due to car accident injury was sent to slaughterhouse of Tabriz, Iran. In meat inspection practice, the visceral organs were taken out. A small red nodule having a white center was observed at the surface of the left lobe of lung. To study more, the whole of the left lobe of lung was sent to the parasitology laboratory. One nymph of L. serrata was separated from the specimen. This is the first report of infection with L. serrate of two-humped camel in Iran
Subject(s)
Male , Animals , Parasitic Diseases, Animal/parasitology , Arthropods , Lung/parasitologyABSTRACT
Linguatulosis is a rare zoonotic parasitic infection, in which human plays the role of both definitive and intermediate host and can be occasionally infected. This study determines the status of infection in livestock and its potential risk to men in the northwestern province of Azarbaijan-e-Sharghi, Iran. In a cross-sectional study from June 2007 to June 2008, 800 slaughtered animals including 400 cattle and 400 buffaloes from Tabriz abattoir in Azarbaijan-e-Sharghi Province were randomly selected and examined for L. serrata nymphs. After primary macroscopical inspection, all liver and lung samples were cut to small pieces, treated with a tissue digestion method and checked macroscopically and microscopically for free or encapsulated nymphs. Out of 800 animals, 3 [0.38%] were found to be infected with L. serrata nymphs and the prevalence of infection in cattle and buffaloes was determined to be 0.25% and 0.5%, respectively. Conclusion: Linguatula infection occurs as an endemic zoonosis in the study area and has an active transmission life cycle