Prevalence of Linguatula serrata nymphs in sheep in Shiraz, Iran

The infection rate of Linguatula serrata nymphs in livers and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) of 200 sheepwas investigated. The lymph nodes were examined macroscopically and the livers by a digestion method. The MLNs in 23 sheep out of 200 (11.5%) and the livers of 6 sheep out of 200 (3.0%)were infected by L. serrata nymphs. The infection rate increased by age (P < 0.01). Females had a higher infection rate (P < 0.01) but itwas due to higher mean age of females compared with that of males. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved