A Slaughterhouse Study on the Prevalence and Direct Economic Losses of Liver Parasites in the Sheep of Birjand City

Background and aim: Liver parasites are one of the most important parasitic groups which, in addition to causing diseases in host animals, also have zoonotic importance. This study was conducted with the aim of examining the livers of sheep slaughtered in the industrial slaughterhouse of Birjand city and identifying the parasitic contamination in them, finding the cause of contamination and estimating the direct economic losses caused by them. Materials and Methods: The present study was descriptive-analytical and it was conducted cross-sectionally in four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter of ۲۰۲۱. During the research period, by referring to the slaughterhouse, the removed livers were collected and transferred to the parasitology laboratory in cold condition and on ice bags. In the laboratory, the possible cysts in the liver were subjected to diagnostic examinations by examining the appearance and also making deep cuts in the liver tissue. Results: During the ۱۲-month research period, ۱۵۳۱۹ sheep were slaughtered, among which ۷۹۰ sheep had parasitic infections in their livers. Infected livers were removed wholly or partially. The total number of liver removals caused by parasites was estimated at ۷۹۳ kilograms, which is based on the daily price (per kilogram of liver: one million and five hundred Rials) and it was calculated one billion one hundred eighty-nine million five hundred thousand Rials (۱۱۸۹۵۰۰۰۰۰ Rials). The parasites observed in the infected livers included hydatid cyst, fasciola, dicrocelium, cysticercus teniacolis and sarcocyst. Conclusion: Considering the extent and volume of contamination and taking into account the direct financial loss caused by parasitic contamination in Birjand city, it could be estimated that parasites cause huge and significant amounts of damage to the country's animal husbandry industry every year.