prevalence of linguatula serrata infection in domestic bovids slaughtered in tabriz abattoir, iran

background:  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. methods: 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. results: 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.