Prevalence, biology, pathology, and public health importance of linguatulosis of camel in Iran

Abstract

Linguatula serrata is a cosmopolitan zoonotic parasite with its adult form occurring in the nasal and respiratory passages of canids as the definitive hosts, while its immature stages localize in the mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, spleen, lungs, and, rarely, in other organs, such as the ocular region of herbivorous intermediate hosts. Humans can behave as both intermediate and final host and are infected by visceral and nasopharyngeal linguatulosis. Consumption of infected, improperly cooked viscera of the intermediate hosts, including sheep, goats, cattle, camels, or other herbivores containing the larval stages of this parasite is a potential source of infection of human beings with the nasopharyngeal form of linguatulosis. However, nasopharyngeal secretions or feces of carnivores containing eggs of Linguatula are the main sources for infecting human beings with the visceral form of this infection. In the present study, the prevalence of infection by nymphs of L. serrata in 101 camels in Yazd Province, central Iran, was estimated based on histopathological studies of samples from two, apparently enlarged, mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), together with one sample from a whitish pinpoint spot on the liver and spleen of each animal. Thirteen camels (12.9%) were infected with the nymphal stage of L. serrata. Age and sex did not play a significant role in the prevalence of this parasitic infection. The number of parasites in each MLN ranged from one to six larvae. In view of the consumption of raw or undercooked liver and visceral organs of camel by humans of this region, the importance of careful inspection at slaughter needs to be emphasized.

Prevalence of Linguatula serrata nymphs and pathological lesions of infected mesenteric lymph nodes among ruminants in Kermanshah, western Iran

“…These findings were consistent with the lesions reported by other investigators in sheep and camel (Miclãuş et al, 2008;Oryan et al, 2011).…”

“…The prevalence of L. serrata nymphs in females was higher than in males in all animal species, but these differences were not statistically significant similarly to those reported previously by other researchers (Nourollahi Fard et al, 2011;Oryan et al, 2011). In the study conducted by Shekarforoush et al, (2004), the prevalence of L. serrata nymphs has been significantly greater in female than in male sheep.…”

“…Although the larval or nymphal infection in herbivores is usually clinically asymptomatic, the infected animals are considered to be the main source of infection for humans (Oryan et al, 2011). Therefore, the high prevalence rate of L. serrata infection in lymph nodes of ruminants in this area should be considered as an important risk factor for human being infection.…”

“…However, several studies have been carried out as regards the prevalence of L. serrata infection in animals including, dogs (Meshgi & Asgarian, 2003;Oryan et al, 2008), camels (Pourjafar et al, 2007;Tajik et al, 2007;Shakerian et al, 2008;Oryan et al, 2011), buffaloes (Tajik et al, 2008;Rezaei et al, 2011), sheep Nourollahi Fard et al, 2011), cattle (Hami et al, 2009;Nourollahi Fard et al, 2010a) and goats Nourollahi Fard et al, 2010b) in many parts of Iran, but the incidence of L. serrata in herbivores in western Iran is practically unknown.…”

A Review of Zoonotic Pathogens of Dromedary Camels

“…n = 1 (Ashford 2000;Sazmand et al 2012;Chhabra and Samantaray 2012;Ereqat et al 2016). Four other parasite species found in this cohort were helminths Haemonchus tataricus, Trichostrongylus hamatus, and Trichuris infundibulus n = 2; Linguatula serrata n = 7; Onchocerca volvulus n = 1; and Fasciola hepatica or Fasciola gigantica n = 1 (Sadjjadi et al 1998;McCarthy and Moore 2000;Shakerian et al 2008;Haddadzadeh et al 2010;Oryan et al 2011;Rezaei et al 2012;Anvari-Tafti et al 2013;Bamorovat et al 2014;Youssef and Uga 2014;El-Bahnasawy et al 2015;Farjanikish and Shokrani 2016).…”