The paper describes a field survey performed to determine the prevalence of hydatid cyst disease in ruminants in butcher shops in the Holy City of Karbala, and to compare the rates of infection among these animals. The study lasted for five months from November 2016 to April 2017. During the study, 2115 cattle, 4230 sheep and 623 goats were examined. The results indicate that 39 cattle (1.84%), 84 sheep (1.9%) and 15 goats (2.4%) were infected. The livers of sheep and goats demonstrated a higher incidence of hydatid cysts than the lungs, with 1.2% of sheep livers and 2.08% of goat livers being infected. The incidence of lung infection was 0.7% of sheep and 0.32% of goats. In cattle, however, lung infection (1.22%) was more widespread than liver infection (0.61%).