[Fauna of zoontic parasites of stray dogs in Yasouj suburbs in 2008]

Dogs are among the closest animals to human residents and can by useful for human. A few of zoontic diseases are prevalent in Iran. Dogs are the reservoirs of many of these zoonosis and a major role in transmission of infection. The aim of this study was to determine the zoonotic parasitic fauna of stray dogs in Yasuj. In this descriptive study which was conducted at Yasuj suburbs in 2008, 25 dogs' corpses were necropsied and their tissues were studied for parasitic infections. Collected parasites were placed in special containers and stained for genus and species diagnosis based on their morphological features. The collected data were analyzed with the SPSS software, using descriptive analysis. Of the 25 studied corpses, 23 dogs were infected with at least one parasite. Helminthic infections of dogs were consisted of: Taenia hydatigena, Mesocestoides sp., Echinococcus granulosus, Dipylidium caninum, Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus and Spirocerca lupi. Four of six detected helminthes in in dogs in this study are zoonotic parasites which are important in human diseases. Among them larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus which causes hydatid cyst disease in human is very important. Control programs should be implemented in this region to prevent these zoonotic diseases

Seroepidemiological study of visceral leishmaniasis in Booyerahmad district, south-west Islamic Republic of Iran

Visceral leishmaniasis [VL] is endemic in parts of Islamic Republic of Iran. A cross-sectional seroprevalence study was carried out in children in Booyerahmad district in the south-west of the country. Serum samples were taken from 1628 children up to 10 years old from different areas in Booyerahmad in 2005-06. Anti-Leishmania antibody was detected in 50 out of 1628 children [3.1%] by direct agglutination test [antibody titre > 1:3200]. There was no significant difference in seropositivity between the sexes [2.8% males and 3.3% females]. The highest rate of infection [5.2%] was in the age group 10 years. Further studies are needed to explore the reservoirs and vectors of the disease in this region

[Comparison between serology and PCR methods for the diagnosis of visceral Leishmaniasis]

Canine visceral leishmaniasis [CVL] caused by Leishmania Infantum is endemic in most Mediterranean basin and its seroprevalence ranges from 10 to 37%. Diagnosis of Infection is very important especially in asymptomatic dogs for control of human leishmaniasis for control of human visceral leishmaniasis. This study was aimed to compare three methods for detection of canine visceral leishmaniasis. In this research process study, 71 dogs were selected from 4 endemic villages in Meshkin-Shahr district. Peripheral blood samples were tested by serologic [DAT and Dipstick rK39] and molecular [PCR] methods. Skin samples were tested by molecular [PCR] methods. Twelve samples of PCR products were sequenced that all of them were identified as Leishmania infantum and 2 nucleotide sequence data submitted to the GenBank database. From 71 dogs that were studied, 21.1% were symptomatic and others were asymptomatic[78.9%]. 17 dogs [23.9%] had >/= 1:320 titer of antibody by direct agglutination test [DAT]. Twenty two dogs[31%] were positive by Dipstick rK39 test, 21 dogs [29.6%] were positive by PCR on skin samples, 31 dogs [43.7%] were positive in blood PCR and 38 dogs [53.5%] were positive by skin/blood PCR. The highest correlation was between DAT and Dipstick test [76%].According to the results of this study, we can diagnose infection in symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs by DAT as a suitable method and PCR is suitable to follow parasite DNA in skin and other tissues of dogs

Seroepidemiological study on canine visceral leishmaniasis in Meshkin-Shahr district, Ardabil province, northwest of Iran during 2006-2007

This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of canine visceral leishmaniasis in Meshkin-Shahr district as endemic areas of human visceral leishmaniasis [HVL] for presenting control program of HVL to health authorities. A Seroepidemiological study to determine seroprevalence of canine visceral leishmaniasis [CVL] among ownership dogs using direct agglutination tests [DAT] in 21 villages of Meshkin-Shahr district, Ardabil Province was carried out from June 2006 to August 2007. Three hundred and eighty four ownership dogs were selected by multi-stage cluster sampling. Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used to compare seroprevalence values relative to gender, age and clinical signs. Of the 384 serum samples tested by DAT, 17.4% [95%C.I, 13.2%-20.8%] were positive [1:320 and higher]. No statistical significant difference was found between male [16.5%] and female [20.2%] seroprevalence [P=0.416]. The highest seroprevalence rate [64.2%] was observed among the ownership dogs of three years age and above. Only 25.4% of the seropositive dogs had clinical signs and symptoms. The most clinical signs among symptomatic dogs were cachexia [75%] and alopecia [36.5%]. The majority of seropositive dogs [74.6%] lived in endemic areas of Meshkin-Shahr district were asymptomatic. It seems that all symptomatic and asymptomatic infected dogs are the most important risk factors for human infection in VL endemic areas

Application of direct agglutination test [DAT] for the diagnosis and seroepidemiological studies of visceral leishmaniasis in Iran

Visceral leishmaniasis [VL] is one of the most important parasitic diseases which is endemic in different parts of Iran. Serological studies were conducted by direct agglutination test [DAT] on 12144 human serum samples, collected from four geographical zones of Iran. Sero prevalence, geographical distribution, clinical signs and symptoms for human visceral leishmaniasis based on DAT for the period of 2002 through 2005 were determined. From 516 kala-azar cases detected: 50.6% were from Meshkin-shahr and Moghan districts in Ardabil Province, northwest of Iran and 49.4% were detected from other areas of Iran. In physical examination of seropositive cases, which were detected by DAT with anti-leishmanial antibodies at titers of 1: 3200 to 1: 102400, almost 50% of suspected individuals showed the classical kala-azar signs and symptoms. Predominant signs and symptoms in 233 hospitalized patients with anti-Leishmania antibodies at 1:3200 and higher, were fever [88.0%] and splenomegaly [84.5%]. Statistically significant difference was found between males [58%] and females [42%] [P< 0.01]. Moreover, 93.6% of the VL patients were < 5 yr of age, and 6.4% were older than 5 yr that this difference was statistically significant [P< 0.01]. From 1383 serum samples collected from domestic dogs in the villages that are known as endemic foci of human leishmaniasis, 152 [11.0%] were positive by DAT [>/= 1:320]. Parasitological and serological examinations that were performed in 30 wild canines showed that 10% of these animals were infected by L. infantum. L. infantum Lon49 is the principal agent of the disease in human as well as animal reservoir hosts in different parts of Iran. For the first time in Iran, L. tropica isolated from both skin lesions in the face and bone marrow aspiration in a HIV+ man who co-infected with VL as well as in an infected dog from Ardabil Province