OBJECTIVETo evaluate the prevalence of nymphal stages of L. serrata in mesenteric lymph nodes of camels slaughtered in Mashhad slaughterhouse, Northeast of Iran.

METHODSFor this purpose, mesenteric lymph nodes of 400 camels of different sex and age were examined. The lymph nodes were examined macroscopically and a digestion method was also applied for investigation of samples which was negative macroscopically.

RESULTSThe mesenteric lymph nodes of 73 camels out of 400 (18.25%) were infected by L. serrata nymphs.

CONCLUSIONSPrevalence of L. serrata nymphs in males and females and different age was not significantly different (P>0.05), but difference was observed between the prevalence in different seasons (P< 0.05). The potential importance of these findings to human health is discussed. This is the first report of infection with L. serrate of camels in camels slaughtered at northeast of Iran.

Abattoirs ; Animals ; Camelus ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Iran ; epidemiology ; Lymph Nodes ; parasitology ; Male ; Nymph ; Parasitic Diseases, Animal ; epidemiology ; parasitology ; Pentastomida ; Prevalence