GROSS AND LIGHT-MICROSCOPIC FEATURES OF OVINE PULMONARY HYDATIDOSIS AND VERMINOUS PNEUMONIAS IN MOROCCO

Verminous pneumonias appear to be common in sheep in Morocco, therefor e, a systematic study was undertaken to classify the pulmonary changes induced by various parasites in Morocco. A total of 613 pairs of lung s with parasitic pneumonias were diagnosed in 1152 young and adult she ep either slaughtered at two abattoirs in Morocco (487 out of 1152 she ep) or received at necropsy services (126 our of 1152 sheep) over a 15 -month period. Based on gross and microscopic findings, four types of pulmonary changes were classified. Included were those associated with : 1. The larvae of Taenia echinococcus (Echinococcus granulosus (canin e tapeworm); 520 out of 613 lungs (84.8 %)); 2. Muellerius capillaris (450 out of 613 lungs (79.9 %)); 3. Protostrongylus rufescens (375 our of 613 lungs (61.1%)); and 4. Dictyocaulus filaria (285 our of 613 lu ngs (46.4 %)). Mixed infestations, involving the presence of two, thre e, or four species of parasites in the same lung, were encountered in 325 our of 613 (53 %) lungs studied. Red-to-brownish consolidated area s, confined to the cranial parts of the lung, were observed frequently in some lungs affected with M. capillaris and P. rufescens. In most o f the lungs, co-existent emphysematous, atelectatic, and abscessed are as were seen.