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%).


Introduction
It is impossible to give an accurate estimate of the economic importance of parasitic disease because it varies so greatly between countries and between regions.
There are few published data from Iraq on the incidence of helminthes of slaughtered animals.Fasciola hepatica is reported in the north and north-east of the country (1).The specimens of Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica were collected from sheep and goats (2 & 3).Lymnacid vectors snails of Fasciola gigantica were reported in Iraq (4).Cysticercus bovis in the liver of buffaloes is found in the abattoir at Mosul (5).It is shown that the rate of hydatid disease in Middle Euphrates Area in sheep and cattle was 3.19% during the period from 1987-1991 (6).
It was reported that out of 846 sheep examined in Mosul abattoir, 27% were found to be positive for lung worms.It was found that Dictyocaulus filaria was the most common species with few cases of Protostrongylus sp.Medium to heavy infestation was recorded during winter (7).
The present study was carried out to show the incidence of Fasciola, Hydatid cyst and lung worm among slaughtered ruminants in Kirkuk abattoir during 2003.

Materials and methods
The study was conducted in Kirkuk city, Iraq which is located in the north of the country, with a population about one million.
The investigation was carried out on ruminants (sheep, goats, calves, cattle and buffaloes) at Kirkuk abattoir which is situated at the eastern part of the city, it is consists of two main halls.The first one for sheep with a capacity of slaughtering 300 sheep a day and the second one for cattle with a capacity of slaughtering 150 cattle.In addition to that there are two rooms, one for veterinary authorities and the second one for changing clothes.
All animals came from the north part of the country and were of local breeds and slaughtered by Islamic method.
The liver and lungs of 40233 sheep, 9223 goats, 9577 calves, 2855 cattle and 50 buffaloes slaughtered from beginning of January to end of December 2003, were examined thoroughly by naked eye by official veterinarian to show the incidence of hydatid cysts, liver flukes and lung worms.

Results
Table 1, indicates that the total number of sheep, goats, calves, cattle and buffaloes slaughtered in Kirkuk abattoir in year 2003 were 40233, 9223, 9577, 2855 and 50 respectively.It is also shown that the number of ruminants slaughtered varies in different seasons.The number of sheep slaughtered was highest in winter followed by summer, spring and autumn, while the number of goats slaughtered was lower than sheep, the highest was in summer followed by autumn, winter and spring.
The number of calves slaughtered was highest in winter followed by summer, autumn and spring.The number of cattle slaughtered was lowest than sheep, goats and calves.In addition to that only 50 buffaloes were slaughtered; 15 in winter, 12 in both spring and summer and 11 in autumn.

Discussion
The epidemiology of helminthes diseases complex involves a balance between the infection rate and the resistance of the host.Accordingly in both temperate and tropical areas, young animals are particularly liable to develop heavy infection.However, there is a marked difference in the seasonal incidence of the disease between those tropical areas in which the climate includes a long hot and dry season and those in which the dry season is short or absent.
The results of this study showed that sheep are the most common ruminants slaughtered in Kirkuk slaughter house, followed by calves, goats and cattle.Buffaloes are rarely slaughtered in this province.
Regarding the distribution of parasitic infections in Kirkuk province, it is found that the rate of hydatid cysts, liver flukes and lung worms was highest in cattle, followed by sheep and goats.In calves only hydatid cysts were detected while in buffaloes liver flukes were seen.
The highest rate of hydatid cysts in this study among cattle was (4.27%) which is higher than sheep and calves which might be due to most sheep and calves are slaughtered in early age, as most people in Kirkuk prefer meats of young animals.
The rate of hydatid cysts in the present study among slaughtered ruminants in sheep (1.17%), goats (0.32%) and cattle (4.38%) is lower than that reported in Baghdad (8) who reported the infection rate in sheep, goats and cattle were 29.5%, 25.6% and 13.9% respectively and (9) who found 4.5% in sheep and 5.0% in cattle in Baghdad slaughter house.While (10) reported 5.9% in sheep, 5.1% in goats and 4.9% in cattle.The infection rate in sheep and goats is also lower than that reported in Mosul province (11) who reported 9.76% in sheep, 3.12% in goats, but identical to our finding in cattle (4.34%).While in Arbil province (12), found 27.4% of goats and 22.3% of cattle were infected with hydatid cysts.The difference in the infection rate in different provinces might be related to geographical distribution, period of study and sample size.
In the present study, the rate of liver flukes in cattle (2.63%) was higher than sheep (0.50%), goats (0.43%).In buffaloes 2 cases were observed from 50 buffaloes slaughtered.The distribution of infection was lower than that reported by (2) who found the rate of infection in cattle and sheep was 27% and 7.1% respectively.The lower rate of infections in this study might be due to low rate of intermediate hosts (snails) in Kirkuk.It is well known that snails are widely distributed only in Al-Hawija district, Kirkuk province (7).
The lower rate of infection in calves than in cattle is also shown by others.In Babylon province (13) reported the rate of Fasciola gigantica increased with advanced age of animals.He found the rate of infection 3.4% in cattle less than two years old, while in cattle more than four years old was 59%.In buffaloes only 2 cases were reported from 50 examined.
The highest rate of lung worm infection was also in cattle (2.98%), followed by sheep (0.55%) and goats (0.22%).No cases were seen in calves and buffaloes.The finding of this study is much lower than that reported by other workers.In Mosul slaughter house (7) reported 27.3% in sheep, while in Baghdad province (3) found only 9.9% in sheep also.
Regarding the distribution of infections according to seasons, it is shown that the infection of hydatid cysts, liver flukes and lung worms were distributed during all seasons with their rate being high during autumn and winter months.
Comparing the finding of this study with that reported by other studies carried on in Iraq.In Basrah province (14) found the rate of Fasciola gigantica infection was highest in summer, followed by spring.In Babylon province (13) found the rate of F. gigantica was highest in summer and lowest in winter.In northern Iraq (7) reported lung worms throughout the year except in the summer months, with the highest rate in January, February and March.
The result of this study indicates that animal helminthes are of great public health and economic importance.As high number of hydatid cysts observed in this study which is a source of infection to final host (dog and other carnivores) and transmit to human beings.The high number of helminthes infection lead to great loss of organs and carcass which are the source of animal protein, in addition to loss of production and performance of animals.
It is concluded that helminthes parasites are common in Kirkuk, Iraq.
It is recommended: 1-To carry on further studies to show the real distribution of infections.2-A proper meat inspection should be performed on slaughtered ruminants in slaughter house.
3-To establish diagnostic laboratory in each slaughter house.4-Efforts should be made to control the economic and public health importance helminthes infections.

Table 1 .
The number of ruminants slaughtered in Kirkuk abattoir during 2003.

Table 2 .
Incidence of some helminth infections among slaughtered ruminant in Kirkuk abattoir in 2003.

Table 3 .
Distribution of helminthes infection according to seasons