An
Abattoir-based Survey of Helminthic Liver Infections and Associated
Pathological Lesions in Sheep in the Sultanate of Oman
Haytham Ali1, 2, Abeer Alhamrashdi1,
Mahmoud El-Neweshy3, Muhammad Nadeem Asi1,
Eugene H Johnson1 and Elshafie I Elshafie1, 4*
1Department
of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, College of Agricultural and
Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
2Department
of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University,
Zagazig, 44511, Egypt
3Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary
Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, 33516, Egypt
4Central
Veterinary Research Laboratory, Al Amarat, P.O. Box 8076, Khartoum,
Sudan
*Corresponding author:
eielshafie@squ.edu.om
Abstract
Importation of apparently clinically healthy animals from endemic areas to naïve
countries is a major source of infection to the establishment of new pathogens
outside borders. A survey investigation between 2018 and 2021 was conducted at
the Central Muscat Municipality Slaughterhouse to examine parasitic infections
in condemned liver from 948 sheep samples during routine meat inspection.
Pathological and parasitological examinations were carried out to identify
parasites and associated hepatic lesions. An overall prevalence of 6.01%
(57/984) was observed in sheep condemned liver by single infection of
Dicrocoelium dendriticum, Cysticercus tenuicollis, Stilesia
hepatica, Fasciola hepatica, and hydatid cysts. Hepatic lesions
varied widely from severe hemorrhagic wavy tracts in case of acute cysticercosis
(0.4 %) to indurated dark brown with numerous white scars in livers infected
with D. dendriticum (4.2 %). Presence of cysts with clear fluid and
protoscoleces were seen in livers infected with C. tenuicollis (0.63%)
and hydatidosis (0.1%), detected as larger cysts with white thicker walls
embedded in livers. Examination of the bile ducts revealed S. hepatica at
0.4% and F. hepatica at 0.2%, with thickened bile ducts. Morphometric
measurements confirmed the diagnosis of D. dendriticum in imported sheep
from Romania. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report
of helminthic infections among sheep livers, with reference to dicrocoeliasis in
imported sheep in Oman. Expanding of livestock based on animals’ importation
warrants further quarantine regulations to control emerging parasites and to
reduce economic losses due to liver condemnation in the country.
To Cite This Article:
Ali H, Alhamrashdi A, El-Neweshy M, Asi MN,
Johnson EH, Elshafie EI, 2023. An abattoir based-survey of helminthic liver
infections and associated pathological lesions in sheep in the sultanate of
Oman. Pak Vet J, 43(1): 194-198.
http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2023.011