Ecto-and blood parasitic affecting mericones rex trapped in Najran, Saudi Arabia

In this study, the examination of 25 jirds for arthropod- ectoparasites showed Xenopsylla astia, Ctenocephalides arabicus, Ornithonyssus bacoti and tick nymphs with indices of 0.6, 1.6, 0.64 and 0.24, respectively. The ectoparasites were more on female jirds than on males with indices of 3.8 and 2.0, respectively. Indirect hemagglutination tests for anti-Toxoplasma and anti-Leishmania antibodies showed positive reactions in five and two jirds, respectively. However, neither skin lesion nor protozoal parasites were detected in tissue smears of liver and spleen. The ectoparasites encountered and the seropositive reactions to Toxoplasma and Leishmania denoted that the king jird, Meriones rex, was of medical and veterinary importance

Natural leishmania infection in sand cats captured in Riyadh district, Saudi Arabia

Felis margarita or sand cat is a nocturnal carnivore occurs in sandy areas of desert in many African and Arabian countries. 10 sand cats were captured alive in Riyadh District. Indirect hemagglutination reactions against leishmaniasis were detected in 4 of them at dilutions 1/64 [1], 1/512 [1] and 1/1024 [2]. On the other hand, Leishmania amastigotes were detected in the splenic smears of 4 [40%], 2 of which had amastigotes in the liver smears as well [20%]. Unfortunately, culture for typing was not done. The role of sand cats as zoonotic host of leishmaniasis was discussed