ABSTRACT
Linguatula serrata, one of the parasitic zoonoses, inhabits the canine respiratory system [final hosts]. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence rate of L. serrata nymphs in mesenteric lymph nodes [MLNs] of cattle and buffaloes [intermediate hosts] that were processed in the Ahvaz, Iran abattoir. During November 2010 to March 2011, 223 animals [119 cattle and 104 buffaloes], in different sex and three age groups [<2, 2-<3 and 3->3 years old] were sampled randomly at Ahvaz abattoir. Up to 35 grams of their mesenteric lymph nodes were examined separately for nymphal stages of L. serrata by digesting the samples with acid- pepsin method, collected the nymphs and counted under stereomicroscope. Overall 37[16.6%] of 223 animals were infected with L. serrata nymphs in their mesenteric lymph nodes. Prevalence of the infection in cattle and buffaloes were 16.8% and 16.3% respectively. The number of collected nymphs of MLNs was ranged from 1 to 16. No significant differences were seen in the infection rates between males and females [sexes] and age groups in the cattle and buffa-loes [P <0.05]. Linguatula serrata has an active life cycle in the studied area and a zoonotic potential for transmission between animal and human. Avoiding use of raw MLNs to dogs can help reduce the infection.