Abattoirial survey on seasonal infection of sheep with tape worms in Shiraz area

Little information is available about the seasonal infection rate of ruminants with tape worms in different areas of Iran. In the present study the seasonal incidence of intestinal tape worms was investigated in sheep slaughtered in Shiraz abattoir. From all 3165 investigated sheep, 148 animals (4.68%) were found to be infected with one or more tape worms. The highest infection rate was observed in summer (6.02%), spring (5.95%), autumn (4.06%) and winter (2.86%), respectively. The highest and lowest infection rate with different species of tape worms was observed as follow: Moniezia expansa: spring and winter, Moniezia benedeni: summer and winter, Thysaniezia giardi: summer and autumn, Avitellina centripunctata: winter and spring and Stilesia globipunctata: autumn and spring.