Prevalence of lungworm infection in sheep and cattle in the Kirikkale province

A slaughterhouse survey was performed for one year in order to determine the prevalence and intensity of lungworm infections in both sheep and cattle in the Kirikkale region. Thirty-four percent of 100 sheep examined were infected with lungworms and the species found in the infected lungs were Cystocaulus ocreatus (50.0%) and Dictyocaulus filaria (23.5%). Mixed infections were detected in 26.5% of the infected lungs. Worm nodules and brood nodules of C. ocreatus were observed in the lungs. The range of worm nodules was 1-116 (mean 19.7) and that of brood nodules, 1-5 (mean 2.8) per lung. D. filaria had a range that increased to a maximum of 45 worms (mean 11.5). Lungworms were observed in 14.0% of sheep fecal specimens. Larvae of C. ocreatus (52.4%) and D. filaria (28.6%) were found during examination of feces. Of the feces containing lungworms, 19% showed the presence of mixed infection. Lungworms were not found in cattle examined by autopsy and coprologic examination. C. ocreatus is the most prevalent lungworm species in Anatolia. D. filaria is another frequently seen lungworm species in Turkey while Dictyocaulus viviparus is very rarely reported in this country. It may be related to different humidity and temperature requirements for the development of free living larvae of the two Dictyocaulus species.