The Prevalence and Control of Lungworms of Pastoral Ruminants in Iran

Abstract

Lungworms of the genera Dictyocaulus, Muellerius, Protostrongylus, and Cystocaulus are common helminths of domestic and wild ruminants with substantial veterinary and economic importance. Several studies have assessed the presence and prevalence of lungworm infections in ruminants in Iran. This report compiles the available scientific information about the occurrence of lungworms in domestic and wild ruminants in Iran between 1931 and June 2022 to give an insight into their epidemiology, and where possible to describe drug treatment efficacy. For this purpose, national and international scientific databases were searched. Overall, 54 publications comprising 33 articles in peer-reviewed journals, 8 conference papers, and 13 dissertations were evaluated regarding prevalence data; and an additional 4 peer-reviewed articles were evaluated regarding drug efficacy. Seven species of lungworms, namely Dictyocaulus filaria, Dictyocaulus viviparus, Dictyocaulus eckerti, Protostrongylus rufescens, Protostrongylus raillietti, Muellerius capillaris, and Cystocaulus ocreatus have been recorded from different ruminant hosts in Iran. Thirty-three studies conducted on small ruminant (sheep and goat) lungworms reported prevalences of lungworm infection of 11.6%, 45.81% and 66.29% using abattoir meat inspection, Baermann technique and fecal flotation, respectively. Eight studies conducted on large ruminants (cattle and water buffalo) reported prevalences of infection of 14.83%, 13.98% and 5% using abattoir meat inspection, the Baermann technique and fecal flotation, respectively. The prevalence of infection in wild ruminants was variable across examined species; 38% in urial, 37% in wild goats, 5% in goitered gazelles and 67% in red deer, in addition to a single case report in roe deer. There are few contemporary studies assessing the efficacy of currently available broad-spectrum anthelmintic compounds against lungworms in Iran. The high prevalence of multiple lungworm species in Iran, combined with a lack of information about drug efficacy, supports the need to improve the understanding of these important nematode parasites and inform the development of sustainable control strategies. The aim of this review and meta-analysis is to provide a baseline for future conventional parasitology and next generation molecular epidemiological studies of lungworm infection in pastoral ruminants in Iran.

First Worldwide Evidence of Bronchopulmonary Strongyle Nematodes and the First Report on Italy of Cryptosporidium sp. in Allochthonous Nutria (Myocastor coypus)

“…Species of the genus Muellerius are commonly found worldwide in wild and domestic ruminants and are of substantial economic and veterinary importance. No nematode belonging to the genus Muellerius appears to be transmissible to humans [47,63]. In the present study, based on the frequent contact of nutrias with the local flock of sheep, we could tentatively hypothesize that the detected larvae were Muellerius capillaris (Mueller, 1889), a common parasite of sheep and goats [60].…”

Eukaryotic Infections in Dairy Calves: Impacts, Diagnosis, and Strategies for Prevention and Control

“…Early diagnosis is crucial for effective management and intervention. 98 , 118 Maintaining clean and hygienic living conditions, rotational grazing to reduce exposure to contaminated pastures, and strategic deworming protocols are prevention and control strategies for lungworm infestation in dairy calves. These protocols may involve the use of anthelmintic drugs administered at appropriate intervals to target both adult lungworms and larvae.…”

Lungworms of Non-Ruminant Terrestrial Mammals and Humans in Iran

“…Although the relevance of nematodes infecting the respiratory tract of various mammalian hosts has been largely neglected when compared to other parasitic nematodes, they are considered important pathogens, causing significant complications in domestic and wild animals worldwide. In our previous review article, we highlighted the status quo of lungworms in pastoral livestock systems in Iran [ 8 ], and herein we noted the diversity of lungworms in non-ruminant mammals and humans. As previously mentioned, environmental conditions such as seasonal changes, rainfall, and temperature may directly influence the occurrence of lungworm infection in different host species and their epidemiology.…”

“…As previously reviewed, seven species of lungworms belonging to four genera, i.e., Dictyocaulus filaria (Rudolphi, 1809), Dictyocaulus viviparus (Bloch, 1782), Dictyocaulus eckerti (Skrjabin, 1931), Protostrongylus rufescens (Leuckart, 1865), Protostrongylus raillietti (Schulz, Orlow and Kutass, 1933), Muellerius capillaris (Müller, 1889), and Cystocaulus ocreatus (Railliet and Henry, 1907) have been reported in Iran, in domestic sheep, goats, cattle, water buffaloes and wild ruminants, such as urials, Ovis orientalis (Gmelin, 1774); wild goats, Capra hircus subsp. Aegagrus (Erxleben, 1777); goitered gazelles, Gazella subgutturosa (Güldenstaedt, 1780); roe deer, Capreolus capreolus (Linnaeus, 1758); and red deer, Cervus elaphus (Linnaeus, 1758) [ 8 ]. However, very little information is available regarding the lungworms of non-ruminant terrestrial mammals in the country.…”