Prevalence of Lungworms and Liver Fluke Infections in Ruminants Slaughtered at Kirkuk City, Iraq

688 To cite this paper: Saleh ANA, Wahhab CM, Al-Bayati AM, Abass KS, and Akool ASK. (2025). Prevalence of Lungworms and Liver Fluke Infections in Ruminants Slaughtered at Kirkuk City, Iraq. World Vet. J., 15(3): 688-694. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.54203/scil.2025.wvj69 2025, Scienceline Publication World’s Veterinary Journal World Vet J, 15(3): 688-694. ISSN 2322-4568 Prevalence of Lungworms and Liver Fluke Infections in Ruminants Slaughtered at Kirkuk City, Iraq Abbas Najm Aldin Saleh1* , Cheia Majeed Wahhab2, Almas M. Al-Bayati3, Kasim Sakran Abass4, and Al Salihi Karima Akool5 1Department of Pathology and Poultry Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Kirkuk, Kirkuk, Iraq 2Department of Nursing, Kirkuk Technical Institute, Northern Technical University, Iraq 3Department of Medicine and Preventive, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Kirkuk, Kirkuk, Iraq 4Department of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Kirkuk, Kirkuk, Iraq 5Department of Basic Science, College of Dentistry, Al-Iraqia University, Baghdad, Iraq *Corresponding author's Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Parasitic infections represent one of the most prevalent and economically significant diseases affecting livestock worldwide. The present study aimed to investigate risk factors associated with liver fluke and lungworm infections in small ruminants, characterize the diversity of lungworm species, and determine the prevalence of infections in Kirkuk, Iraq. The study was conducted from November 2023 to April 2024 in Northeastern Iraq, examining 30,900 sheep, 797 goats, 9,990 cattle, and 84 buffalo at slaughter. All carcasses underwent thorough gross pathological examination to detect parasitic infections, including lungworms, liver flukes, hydatid cysts, and associated pulmonary lesions. Distinct pathological manifestations were particularly evident in naturally infected local sheep. The present study revealed the following disease prevalence patterns across species. Pneumonia was detected in 0.31% of sheep and 0.35% of cattle, with no cases observed in goats or buffalo. Hepatitis showed an incidence rate of 0.39% in sheep and 0.75% in cattle. Hydatid cyst occurrence in hepatic and pulmonary tissues was documented at 0.38% in sheep and 1.13% in cattle, while remaining undetectable in caprine and bovine specimens. Liver fluke infection rates varied significantly among species, with sheep exhibiting 0.32% prevalence, goats demonstrating the highest rate at 3.76%, cattle showing 0.90% infection, and buffalo populations remaining completely uninfected. The present findings revealed significantly higher disease susceptibility in ruminants during winter months, with progressively lower infection rates observed throughout summer and monsoon seasons. This seasonal pattern may reflect environmental factors influencing parasite life cycles and host immunity. Keywords: Animal disease, Hydatid cyst, Parasitic infection, Pneumonia, Ruminant ORIGINAL ARTICLE Received: July 02, 2025 Revised: August 06, 2025 Accepted: September 03, 2025 Published: September 30, 2025 INTRODUCTION Slaughterhouses serve as critical surveillance points for detecting economically significant and zoonotic diseases, playing a pivotal role in ensuring food safety throughout the production chain (Raji et al., 2010; Mohammed and Abass, 2021). Systematic ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections are essential for identifying meat hygiene issues and potential public health risks associated with carcass consumption (Nevas and Lundén, 2014). Meat inspection records serve as a valuable epidemiological tool for veterinary public health surveillance and disease prevention (Edwards et al., 1997; García-Díez et al., 2023). Microbial pathogens such as Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Klebsiella, Proteus, Pseudomonas, and Entamoeba histolytica are suspected of causing lung and hepatic abscesses in humans and animals (Webb et al., 2014). Fusobacterium necrophorum is a Gram-negative, obligately anaerobic, rod-shaped bacterium that primarily colonizes the bovine rumen, where it adheres to the ruminal epithelium. Rumen concentrations of this pathogen are significantly elevated in grain-fed cattle compared to forage-fed animals (Neves et al., 2025). These bacterial microorganisms enter the portal circulation from the rumen and become trapped in the liver, leading to abscesses caused by bacterial pathogens, which represent a primary etiological factor in hepatic abscess development (Tadepalli et al., 2009). Pneumonia and bronchitis are signs of lungworm infections, which typically strike young calves on permanent or semi-permanent pastures during the first grazing season (Holzhauer et al., 2011; Forbes, 2018). The majority of significant clinical signs are caused by primary parasite pneumonia and manifest during the prepatent and patent stages (Abass et al., 2020). Chakraborty et al. (2014) identified Dictyocaulus filaria (D. filaria), Protostrongylus rufescens, and DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.54203/scil.2025.wvj69 PII: S232245682500069-15 World Vet. J., 15(3): 688-694, 2025 689 Muellerius capillaris as the primary etiological agents of ovine lungworm infection, clinically manifested as verminous pneumonia or verminous bronchitis. The life cycle of hydatid cyst consists of two stages, with a definitive host (Canids) that carry the adult worm in the small intestine, and livestock serving as an intermediate host, in which livestock and humans can accidentally become infected, where the larval stage (Hydatid cyst) develops in liver (Eckert and Deplazes, 2004, Stojković et al., 2018). The infection of hydatid cyst in the intermediate host occurs through the accidental ingestion of Echinococcus eggs, which are passed through the feces of a dog and contaminated water or food (Lopes et al., 2017). The economic significance of echinococcosis in livestock production stems primarily from carcass degradation and contamination of consumable visceral organs, including lungs, liver, and heart (Hussein et al., 2022). Fascioliasis represents one of the most globally prevalent parasitic diseases of livestock, with significant economic impacts on cattle and sheep production systems worldwide (Mehmood et al., 2017). Current estimates indicate infection rates exceeding 250 million sheep and 300 million cattle globally. The two primary species of Fasciola (F.) spp., which are F. gigantica and F. hepatica, can infect humans and are widespread parasites in ruminants, particularly in sheep, goats, cattle, buffalo, and pigs (Periago et al., 2006). These ruminants are typically distinguished by their morphological features, including body length and form (Periago et al., 2008; Mazeri et al., 2017). Liver fluke infection is recognized as an economically significant parasitic disease in livestock production systems, primarily due to its global prevalence and the substantial tissue damage caused by hydatid cyst formation in affected organs, particularly the liver and lungs (Jawad et al., 2018). Furthermore, fasciola, which affects over 2.6 million people globally, is becoming a significant human health concern. Hence, fasciola has been regarded as a neglected illness that is resurfacing (Jaja et al., 2018). The adult bisexual stage of the fasciola settles in the bile ducts of the host and releases thousands of eggs per day during sexual reproduction (Fürst et al., 2012). These eggs pass into the intestines through the bile ducts before being dispersed into the fecal stream (Mohammed and Abass, 2021). The present study aimed to assess the risk factors associated with lungworm infections in small ruminants, characterize the prevalence of different lungworm species, and evaluate the incidence of these parasitic infections in Kirkuk, Iraq. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ethical approvals The animal experimentation was approved by the Ethical Clearance Committee of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Kirkuk University, under registration number Ki. Vet. 5 (2025). The present study was conducted from November 2023 to April 2024 at the Al-Asiriyah slaughterhouse in Kirkuk city, Iraq Study area The study was conducted in Kirkuk, a city in the Northeastern part of Iraq, with a population of 1.5 million people (Abass et al., 2020). The majority of people in Kirkuk are farmers, and farming is the primary driver of the city’s economy (Abass et al., 2020). The majority of livestock are raised using a semi-extensive system, which involves tethering and seasonal confinement (Abass et al., 2019). The current study was carried out at the University of Kirkuk College of Veterinary Medicine and approved by the scientific committee in Iraq. Animals The study was conducted at the Kirkuk Al-Asiriyah slaughterhouse in Iraq, which comprises two primary processing halls; one dedicated to sheep with a capacity of 30,900 heads and another for cattle with a capacity of 9,990 heads. The investigation included multiple livestock species (Cattle, goats, sheep, and buffalo) of local Northern Iraqi breeds. All animals were aged 6 months to 2 years, with the following weight ranges. Cattle (150-350 kg), goats (10-40 kg), sheep (15-35 kg), and buffalo (100-400 kg). Both sexes were represented, and all slaughter procedures followed Islamic (Halal) protocols (Abass et al., 2020). The study population consisted primarily of locally sourced goats. In contrast, sheep and cattle specimens were predominantly acquired from neighboring cities, including Mosul, Tikrit, Sulaymaniyah, and the Northern Iraqi provinces, via the investigated slaughterhouse's supply chain. Routine meat inspection procedures for all four livestock species were primarily conducted by qualified animal health technicians, with veterinary intervention reserved for complex pathological findings (Kadir et al., 2012). Tissue samples from the livers and lungs of 315 sheep, 30 goats, 238 cattle, and 84 buffalo were collected from November 2023 to April 2024. All carcasses underwent thorough gross pathological examination by certified veterinary inspectors to detect hepatic fascioliasis, hydatidosis, and pulmonary lesions, following established protocols (Abass et al., 2019). Saleh et al., 2025 690 Sample collection During sample collection, liver and lung tissues from cattle, sheep, goats, and buffalo were systematically examined for signs of infection, with a particular focus on bile duct abnormalities. A thorough macroscopic inspection was conducted to assess organ size, color, texture, shape, and the presence of parasitic lesions or other pathological changes. Following visual examination, organs were sectioned into smaller portions and further dissected into thin slices for detailed analysis (Chauke et al., 2014). Statistical analysis The statistical analysis was performed using Sigma Plot, version 11. Differences among groups were determined by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Fisher’s LSD test. All results were presented as means, with statistical significance set at (p < 0.05). RESULTS A total of 30,900 sheep, 797 goats, 9,990 cattle, and 84 buffalo were killed at the Kirkuk Alsiriyah slaughterhouse, Iraq. Goat slaughter numbers differed significantly in April compared to other species (p < 0.05), whereas buffalo and sheep slaughter rates indicated a marked seasonal decrease in December and November, respectively (p < 0.05; Table 1). Among the 30,900 sheep examined, 95 cases of pneumonia were detected (0.31%), while 35 cases were identified in 9,990 cattle (0.35%). No pneumonia cases were reported in goats or buffaloes at the Kirkuk slaughterhouse (Table 2). A total positivity of sheep pneumonitis was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in April (0.41%) than in November (0.38%), December (0.28%), February (0.26%), March (0.19%), and January (0.3%). Similarly, in cattle, the positivity rate remained high (5%) in April compared to other months (p < 0.05; Table 3). Total positivity of pneumonitis in sheep was non-significantly higher in April (0.41%) than in November (0.38%) and January (0.30%), but it was significantly higher compared to the rest of the months (Table 4). Table 1. The total number of sheep, goat, cattle, and buffalo from November 2023 to April 2024, in Kirkuk city, Iraq Month Sheep Goat Cattle Buffalo November 3900a 108b 1270a 10ab December 5200b 134c 1560b 7a January 5000b 134c 1700c 17c February 5600c 180d 1700c 15bc March 5200b 194d 1960d 14bc April 6000d 47a 1800d 21d Total 30900 797 9990 84 Different superscript letters in a column indicate significant differences (p < 0.05) among months. Table 2. Incidence of lungworm (Dictyocaulus filaria) causing pneumonia in sheep, goat, cattle, and buffalo from November 2023 to April 2024 in Kirkuk city, Iraq Animal species Slaughtered animals (Number) Pneumonia infections (Number) Positive cases (%) Sheep 30900 95 0.31 Goat 797 0 0 Cattle 9990 35 0.35 Buffaloes 84 0 0 Table 3. General survey of lungworm (Dictyocaulus filaria) pneumonia infections in sheep, goat, cattle, and buffalo from November 2023 to April 2024, in Kirkuk city, Iraq Month Infected animals (Number) November December January February March April Sheep (%) 15b 15b 15b 15b 10c 25a Goat (%) 0 0 0 0 0 0 Cattle (%) 5b 5b 5b 5b 5b 10a Buffalo (%) 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 20 20 20 20 15 35 Different superscript letters in a row indicate significant differences (p < 0.05) among months. World Vet. J., 15(3): 688-694, 2025 691 Table 4. Prevalence of pneumonia in sheep from November 2023 to April 2024 in Kirkuk city, Iraq Month Examined animals (Number) Positive lungs (Number) Total positive cases (%) November 3900 15 0.38a December 5200 15 0.28b January 5000 15 0.30ab February 5600 15 0.26b March 5200 10 0.19c April 6000 25 0.41a Different superscript letters in a column indicate significant differences (p < 0.05) among months. While a total positivity of pneumonitis in cattle was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in April (0.50%) than in November (0.39%), December (0.32%), January, and February (0.29%; Table 5), no significant difference were recorded among goats and buffaloes in the Kirkuk slaughterhouse, Iraq (p > 0.05). Moreover, the incidence of sheep pneumonitis in November differed significantly from that in other recorded months (p > 0.05; Table 5). As shown in Table 6, a total of 120 hydatid cysts were found in 30,900 sheep (0.38%) and 113 hydatid cysts were found in 9,990 cattle (1.13%), whereas there were no hydatid cysts found in goats or buffaloes. A total positivity of Hydatidosis in sheep was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in April (0.41%) than in December (0.40%), January (0.38%), November (0.38%), February (0.35%), and March (0.19%), as shown in Table 7. Moreover, a total positivity of hydatidosis in cattle was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in December (1.28 %) than in November (1.18 %), February (1.17 %), April (1.11 %), March (1.02 %), and January (0.88 %), as shown in Table 8. Table 5. Prevalence of pneumonia in cattle from the beginning of November 2023 to the end of April 2024 in Kirkuk city, Iraq Month Total number of examined animals Positive in Lungs (Number) Total positive cases (%) November 1270 5 0.39 December 1560 5 0.32 January 1700 5 0.29 February 1700 5 0.29 March 1960 5 0.25 April 1800 10 0.50 Table 6. The hydatid cyst infection rate among sheep, goat, cattle, and buffalo from November 2023 to April 2024 in Kirkuk city, Iraq Animal species Slaughtered animals (Number) Hydatid cyst infections (Number) Positive cases (%) Sheep 30900 120 0.38 Goat 797 0 0 Cattle 9990 113 1.13 Buffaloes 84 0 0 Table 7. Distribution of endemic hydatid cysts in sheep from November 2023 to April 2024 in Kirkuk city, Iraq Month Examined animals (Number) Positive in liver and lungs (Number) Total positive cases (%) November 3900 15 0.38 December 5200 21 0.40 January 5000 19 0.38 February 5600 20 0.35 March 5200 20 0.19 April 6000 25 0.41 Saleh et al., 2025 692 Table 8. Distribution of endemic hydatid disease in cattle from November 2023 to April 2024 in Kirkuk city, Iraq Months Examined animals (Number) Positive in liver and lungs (Number) Total positive (%) November 1270 15 1.18 December 1560 23 1.28 January 1700 15 0.88 February 1700 20 1.17 March 1960 20 1.02 April 1800 20 1.11 DISCUSSION Cystic echinococcosis and liver fluke infections significantly impair livestock productivity by reducing growth rates, increasing mortality and morbidity, and predisposing animals to secondary bacterial infections. Additionally, these conditions lead to organ condemnation and diminished meat and milk production, resulting in substantial economic losses (Najjari et al., 2020). Hydatid disease and Echinococcus spp. further compromise production efficiency through visceral damage and carcass wastage (Jahed Khaniki et al., 2013). To mitigate these risks, implementing a reliable meat inspection system is crucial for detecting animal diseases, particularly chronic conditions that may go undetected by farmers or veterinarians. Although fascioliasis, which is caused by Fasciola spp., has been extensively documented for its substantial veterinary impacts (Mas-Coma et al., 2009), numerous zoonotic bacterial diseases remain underrecognized despite their significant public health consequences. These findings align with the current results, which demonstrated high detection rates of Fasciola spp. and Dictyocaulus spp. infections. Additionally, D. filaria in sheep and goats, and D. viviparous in cattle, can cause lungworm infections (Chakraborty et al., 2014). Hydatidosis is a zoonotic parasitic illness caused by Echinococcus (Wen et al., 2019). The current study revealed an elevated prevalence of lungworm infections in slaughtered ruminants, with detection rates of 0.35% in cattle and 0.31% in sheep. In Afghanistan, Nangarhar, 21.8% of sheep examined at a slaughterhouse were found to be infected with lungworms (Samadi et al., 2019), although the type of lungworm was not specified. In the current study, the incidence of lungworm infection in small ruminants in April was higher than in other months, which is consistent with the findings of Alemu et al. (2006), Regassa et al. (2010), and Borji et al. (2012), who reported an increased spread of lungworm in small ruminants during spring. Thus, the incidence of lungworms in sheep and cattle is influenced by seasonal dynamics (Fesseha and Mathewos, 2021). The occurrence of different infections in a given area is influenced by a multifactorial system comprising parasites, hosts, environmental factors, and physical and physiological stressors that can alter the immune status of animals (Kadir et al., 2012). The current study identified hydatid cyst infections in 1.13% of cattle (113 cases) and 0.38% of sheep (120 cases), representing significantly lower prevalence rates than those reported by Saeed et al. (2000) in Erbil Governorate, Iraq (22.3% in cattle and 27.4% in goats). Moreover, Wadood (2005) reported higher organ-specific prevalence rates of hydatid cysts in Basra, Iraq, with liver involvement in 65.4% of cattle and 52.9% of sheep, and lung infection in 52.72% of cattle and 47.01% of sheep. The present study indicated lower hepatic fascioliasis rates compared to the findings of Wadood (2005). Additionally, Jawad et al. (2018) reported a 1.84% prevalence of hydatidosis in cattle from Karbala, Iraq. CONCLUSIONS The present study indicated a reduction in the prevalence of fascioliasis, lungworms, hydatid disease, and associated parasites in sheep, goats, cattle, and buffalo. The present study highlighted the critical role of meat examination records in monitoring disease incidence and identifying potential long-term trends. The current findings identified winter as the highest risk season for parasitic infections in livestock, with elevated prevalence of fascioliasis (Liver fluke), hydatidosis, and pulmonary nematodiasis (Lung worms). Moreover, the present study on liver fluke, hydatid cyst, and lungworm infections provided baseline data for future surveillance of these potentially significant parasitic diseases in Kirkuk, Iraq. It is crucial to undertake additional studies on ruminants to thoroughly investigate the effects of parasites, lungworms, and liver flukes, as well as to clarify their potential impact on health and productivity. Therefore, it is advisable to implement strengthened measures for controlling these infections in Kirkuk of Iraq. To accomplish this, stricter treatment protocols and more rigorous monitoring of ruminants should be established. World Vet. J., 15(3): 688-694, 2025 693 DECLARATIONS Acknowledgments The authors express their gratitude to the staff of the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Public Health, University of Kirkuk, Kirkuk, Iraq, for their support. The authors sincerely thank the personnel of Kirkuk Asiriyah Slaughterhouse and the Meat Inspection Department for their diligent efforts in gathering the necessary information for the present study. Authors’ contributions Abbas Saleh designed and analyzed the study. Cheia Wahhab and Almas Al-Bayati collected samples, wrote the manuscript, and analyzed the data. Kasim Abass and Al Salihi Karima supported the implementation of the study. All authors have read and approved the data and the final edition of the manuscript. Funding The present study did not receive any financial support. Competing interests The authors of the present study declared no conflict of interest. Ethical considerations The present study was originally written by the authors and has not been published elsewhere. The authors checked the text of the article for plagiarism index and confirmed that the text of the article is written based on their original scientific results. Availability of data and materials Data availability is available according to the request. REFERENCES Abass KS, Ibrahim EK, Esmail RH, and Khalaf RN (2020). General survey of endemic hydatidosis in slaughtered ruminant at Kirkuk, north eastern Iraq abattoir. Biochemical & Cellular Archives, 20(1): 797-802. Available at: https://connectjournals.com/pages/articledetails/toc031268 Abass KS, Mohammed NS, Taleb M, and Raheem ZS (2019). Study of bovine and ovine pulmonary and hepatic abscessation at Kirkuk abattoir. Plant Archives, 19(2): 1640-1644. 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