Objective: To determine the rate of contamination in the liver of sheep infected with theileria parasite regarding the observation of Koch blue body (theilerian schizonet) in the city of Khorramabad.
Design: Observational study.
Animals: 300 sheep of which livers were analgsed.
Procedure: The collected livers were first examined in macroscopic aspect (size, color, existence of contamination in tissue, etc.) and the livers which see med to be unhealthy and had suspicious appearance were separated. Then by preparing slides directly from small parts of suspected livers at tissular necrose and part of the uninfected tissue belonging to the liver paranchyma, gimsa coloring was performed and following the coloring and drying the slides were examined for the existence or non — existence of Koch blue body using optical microscope with 40X and l00X lenses after which pictures and slides were prepared from positive samples.
Statistical analysis: Descriptive statistics.
Results: In macroscopic examination of livers most cases had indications as: large overall size of the liver, circular livers, increase in blood, and in some cases existence of white necrose centers with dimensions of 1-2mm in surface tissues and also liver paranchyma . From the 300 livers examined, 150 livers were macroscopically determined to be suspicious and unhealthy and were taken in to microscopic examination. From the 150 livers which were examined microscopically. 29 cases came out positive (as for existence of koch blue body) the number which shows 20% liver contamination. Incidentally the highest rate of theileriosis in the region is reported to exist in months of May and June.
Clinical implications: In the end considering the gradual development rate of the parasite and the way it is transmitted through tick and concerning the out come of results, regular confrontation along with programming, supervision against existing tick in the county using new improved methods and pestisides effective on tick, also production of theileriosis vaccine in the country and formation of vaccination groups by the veterinary bureau of the county to vaccinate the animals in seasons when ticks are not active (fall and winter) are the kind of actions that can be effective to lessen the contamination by ticks in the region and consequently lessen the diseases transmitted through this pest and be an effective step to eliminate this problem from the industry of animal husbandry in the country. J. Fac. Vet. Med. Univ. Tehran. 57, 1: 99-101, 2002.
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