Prevalence of cestode parasites in sheep slaughtered in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Prevalence of tapeworm infections among sheep slaughtered in Riyadh City were studied from February 2007 to March 2008. A total of 76 out of 3300 sheep were infected with adult cestodes (2.3%). The highest infection rate was in autumn (8.1%), and the lowest one was in summer (1.7%). The cestodes were identified as Moniezia expansa (96.3%) and M. deuticulata (3.7%). Concerning seasonal dynamics of the worms, the highest number was recorded in October and November (13.5 & 8.3%), while the lowest one was in June and July (0.7 & 1.3%). The examination of muscle samples from rump, shoulders and thigh of 1001 sheep revealed Cysticercus ovis in 120 sheep (12%). The highest infection rate (17.5%) was in autumn, and the lowest one (6.2%) was in summer.