The First Report of a Horned Owl Infection with the Trematode Plagiorchis noblei in Shahrekord, Iran

In 2022, the trematode Plagiorchis noblei was isolated from a Horned owl (Asio otus) in Shahrekord city. This trematode was isolated from the small intestine of the Horned owl. The trematode was fixed on a microscope slide and stained with Carmine acid. Then the sample was examined with a stereomicroscope and identified with the available diagnostic keys. Studies showed that this trematode belongs to the species Plagiorchis noblei. This parasite belongs to the Plagiorchiidae family, but so far this parasite has not been observed in owls in Shahrekord city. This parasite belongs to the Digenea order, which causes lung, digestive, liver and blood diseases in birds and other vertebrates.