[Serological studies on prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Awassi sheep in Syria]. / Serologische Untersuchung über die Prävalenz von Toxoplasma gondii bei Awassi-Schafen in Syrien.

Survey was conducted in 9 Syrian provinces on clinically healthy Awassi sheep. Serum samples were collected from several districts (more than 47 localities--31 villages and 20 herds). Animals were 1-5 years old. 458 samples were collected in spring 1997 and 352 samples were collected from November 1998 through February 1999. The result indicated that seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii ranged between 0-100% in the herds and 13.8-74.5% between the provinces. And the mean of sero-prevalence was 44.56% in all provinces. The following prevalence were found in as indicated: Idleb 74.46%, Hama 72.16%, Deraa 63.35%, Al-Hssakeh 51.11%, Suweida 46.98%, Homs 40%, area of Damascus 23.48%, Aleppo 17.02% and Deir Ezzor 13.79%. The serological titer was 1:4 for 37.67% to 1:64 for 78.93% of the positive samples. Results showed that there are 29 (8%) of the positive samples with 1:1.000, and only 5 (1.38%) with 1:4.000. It is concluded that the Toxoplasma-infections may be one of the main causes of sheep abortions and as the source of human infection in Syria. Therefore, it is suggested that further epidemical studies are needed.

[Helminth fauna of Syrian cattle]. / Zur Helminthenfauna syrischer Rinder.

In this work the stomach and the small intestine of 34 and the large intestine of 4 more cattle were examined. 91,17% of the examined cattle (31 in 34 animals) had infected the stomach and/or the small intestine by parasites. 14 kinds of nematodes were found. The average intensity of infection of the stomach was higher than that of the small intestine. With the exception of higher infection in 3 stomachs and 2 small intestines the intensity of infection in all other cases was from small to medium in number. In contrast to this the frequency of infection was higher in small intestines than in stomachs.--The frequency of the found nematodes was: Ostertagia ostertagi 61,76%, Cooperia oncophora 61,76%, Cooperia punctata 47,05%, Trichostrongylus axei 41,17%, Cooperia zurnabada 38,23%, Bunostomum phlebotomum 20,58%, Haemonchus contortus 17,64%, Trichostrongylus vitrinus 11,76%, Skrjabinagia lyrata 5,88%, Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Trichostrongylus longispicularis, Parabronema skrjabini and Toxocara vitulorum each 2,94%.--According to the accessible literature Skrjabinagia lyrata, Ostertagia ostertagi, Trichostrongylus longispicularis, Cooperia punctata, Cooperia zurnabada, Bunostomum phlebotomum and Trichuris discolor were first found in Syrian ruminants. The helminths of Syrian ruminants which have become known until today are tabulated.

[Helminth fauna of Syrian lambs]. / Beitrag zur Helminthenfauna syrischer Lämmer.

A study of the helminth fauna of lambs in Syria was made on 40 gastrointestinal tubes and 500 lungs from animals slaughtered in the abattoir of Hama. The parasites isolated were 21 nematode species, 4 cestode species and 2 bladderworm species (Cysticercus tenuicollis and Echinococcus species). Nematodirus oiratianus, Moniezia benedeni and Neostrongylus linearis were found for the first time in lambs in Syria. A detailed description is given of morphologic characteristics of Nematodirus oiratianus.