Prevalence of some parasitic helminths among slaughtered ruminants in Kirkuk slaughter house, Kirkuk, Iraq

A retrospective study was carried out in year 2003, to show the prevalence of hydatid cysts, liver flukes and lung worm among slaughtered sheep, goats, calves, cattle and buffaloes in Kirkuk slaughter house. The number of ruminants slaughtered in Kirkuk abattoir was sheep (40233), goats (9223), calves (9577), cattle (2855) and buffaloes (50). It was found that the highest rate of hydatid cysts was seen in cattle (4.38%), followed by sheep (1.17%), calves (0.52%) and goats (0.32%) respectively. The rate of liver flukes was observed in sheep (0.50%), goats (0.43%), cattle (2.63%) and 2(4%) in 50 buffaloes slaughtered. No liver fluke was seen in calves. The distribution of lung worm was in sheep (0.55%), goats (0.22%), and cattle (2.98%). No cases were detected from calves and buffaloes. In addition to that there was seasonal fluctuation in the rate of helminthes infection. Hydatid cysts in sheep and cattle were highest in autumn (1.97 & 8.33%) respectively, in goats it was highest in winter (1.01%), while in calves was highest in spring (1.24%), followed by winter (0.84%). The rate of liver flukes in sheep and goats was highest in winter (0.88 & 0.68%) respectively, while in cattle was highest in autumn (5.0%) followed by winter (2.80%). In sheep and goats, the rate of lung worms was highest in winter (0.88 & 1.08%) respectively, while in cattle it w as highest in autumn (5.0%) followed by winter (3.91%).