LAUSR

Abstract Lungworms are associated with several clinicopathologic consequences in the respiratory system of the small ruminants. In this study, the lungs with single or multiple small nodules or raised mass-like (granulomas) lesions were collected from the slaughterhouse and the histopathologic features and molecular analysis using the ITS-2 rRNA gene sequence of the lungworm infection was investigated in the fat-tailed breed sheep. Also, adult worms and the first stage larvae were examined based on comparative morphology. In addition to the establishment of Cystocaulus ocreatus, remarkable molecular identities were found between this nematode and a protostrongylid nematode, Umingmukstrongylus pallikuukensis, described from Muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus). The present results confirm the necessity of conducting the effective control and preventive measures for Cystocaulus ocreatus as an important lungworm in the small ruminants.