Background and Aim: Coenurus cerebralis is the intermediate stage of the canine cestode, which infect sheep and goats, resulting mainly in neurological signs and causing direct and indirect economic losses. This study aimed to demonstrate the existence of C. cerebralis and to elucidate the role of this parasite in inducing neurological behaviors in sheep and goats.

Materials and Methods: On the basis of historical data on neurological signs, we subjected 76 animals (49 sheep and 27 goats) of different ages, sexes, and geographical areas for molecular examination of their blood samples using the polymerase chain reaction assay.

Results: Of the 76 animals, 23.68% tested positive for C. cerebralis infection. We found significant increases in infection (p<0.05) in sheep (26.53%) more than in goats (18.52%). Circling movement was prevalent significantly among both C. cerebralis-positive sheep and goats. The Nineveh region had a significant (p<0.05) increase in positive sheep and goats, and the sheep of all study regions were infected significantly (p<0.05) more than were the goats. We found no significant (p>0.05) variation between sheep ages ≥1-3 years and ≥3 years; however, both groups had a significantly (p≤0.043) higher positivity rate than did sheep ages <1 year. The findings of sheep ages <1 year and ≥1-3 years were significantly higher than those of the goats, but not for goats ages ≥3 years. Female sheep and goats showed a significant increase in positivity versus that for the males.

Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first report in Iraq targeting detection of C. cerebralis in sheep and goats with neurological behaviors; therefore, additional studies involving different animals in other regions using molecular techniques are needed.

Keywords: definitive, intermediate host, Iraq, polymerase chain reaction, Taenia multiceps.