Abstract   

Au ahattoir survey of a total of 6358 animals slaughtered at Bureidah abattoir, Saudi Arabia, throughout the year of’ 1997, revealed that 6.0 per cent of 2742 camels, 14.90 per cent of 3045 sheep, 29.48 per cent of 312 goats and 3.08 per cent of 259 cattle were found to be infected with metacestodes. The overall rate of infection with the parasite was 11 .32 per cent, being 13.51 per cent for the imported breeds and 9.65 per cent for the indigenous one. The calcified cysts were the most predominant nuetacestodes (8.57%) among the slaughtered ruminants. The majority of the cysts were found in liver. Both hydatid cyst and Cvst/cercus tenuicollis were recorded with nearly equal incidence (1.27 and 1.25%. respectively). The other metacestodes, cvsticercus bovis and C. ovis were observed with comparatively lower infection rate (0.13 and 0.29 %, respectively). Detailed prevalence of’ the metacestodes fOr every positive animal was recorded in the study.