Cysticercus ovis, the intermediate stage of a canine tapeworm, Taenia ovis, produces cystic lesions in the skeletal and cardiac muscle of sheep which, if numerous, will result in the condemnation of an entire carcass. This study was carried out between March 2013 and March 2014 to estimate the prevalence of Taenia ovis cysticercosis in sheep slaughtered at the Kermanshah municipal abattoir, in western Iran. Of 69,198 sheep examined, 833 (1.27 %) were infected with cysticerci of Taenia ovis. The prevalence of C. ovis was significantly higher in males than females (P \ 0.05). Seasonal analysis revealed significantly higher prevalence in spring (1.8 %) than other seasons (P \ 0.005). The heart muscles (29.7 %), diaphragm (18.8 %), masseter muscles (18.2 %) and tongue (15.5 %) were the main predilection sites of the cysts. The cysts of ovine cysticercosis were also identified on the triceps, intercostal muscles, thigh muscles, intestinal mucosa, liver and Spleen. This parasite caused extensive damage resulting in infiltrative, degenerative changes, necrosis and exudation mainly in the vicinity of cysts. The results indicate that the prevalence of C. ovis in this area is high. Therefore improving the standard of disease prevention and control on farms is necessary.

Parasitic infections are one of the most common factors that threaten the health and working performance of donkeys. One of the life threatening parasites is the small strongyles that encyst or burrow into the large intestine and their larvae can initiate severe damage in the lining of the intestine. A 6 years old female donkey with clinical signs of diarrhea and emaciation was necropsied and gross examination of gastro-intestinal tract revealed thin-walled, hyperemic and hemorrhagic cecum. Multifocal petechial hemorrhages were particularly prominent in the submucosa of cecum. Parasitological examination revealed two cyathostomin species included Cylicocyclus elongatus and Cyathostomum pathratum. At microscopic examination, cross sections of cyathostomins larvae associated with parasitic granuloma were observed in the submucosa of cecum. The lesions were associated with nonsuppurative enteritis with infiltration of eosinophils, plasma cells, lymphocytes and macrophages in the intestinal mucosa, submucosa and lamina propria.

In this study, 30 sheep from a flock suddenly showed acute neurological symptoms associated with more than 30 % mortality. At necropsy, thickening associated with congestion and turbidity of meningeal membranes particularly on cerebellum, focal to multifocal necrotic areas and whitish spots measuring 1 to 3 cm in diameter were observed in the cortex of cerebrum and cerebellum. Grossly, numerous white tracts were also observed in the myocardium. Histopathologically, the cross sections of coenurus larvae associated with necrotic suppurative meningoencephalitis were observed. Multiple necrotic areas were also observed in the gray matter of cerebellum due to migration of the larvae with an extensive infiltration of eosinophils and neutrophils. In the heart, multifocal granulomatous myocarditis was diagnosed. No growth was seen in bacterial cultures of the brain and heart. Also, no bacteria were seen in these tissues stained with ZiehlNeelsen and Brown-Brenn Gram stain. On basis of gross and histopathologic lesions, acute coenurosis was diagnosed. Unlike chronic coenurosis, acute form of the disease rarely reported in sheep.

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