ABSTRACT
The plerocercoid stage of Pseudophyllidean cestoda infected a wide range of fresh water fish, particularly the members of the Cyprinidae family. The parasite species are the most common pathogens that have severe effects on fish. The aim of the present study is to determine the occurrence and distribution of the plerocercoid of Diphyllobothriidae in two freshwater fish from north and northwest of Iran. Finally, we discuss the role and dynamics of these species of fish in the transmission of infection. This study was carried out from September 2011 to September 2012on a total of 883 A. bipunctatus and 418 A. brama from north and northwest of Iran. The samples were analyzed to find the plerocercoid infection. From a total number of 883 A. Bipunctatus and 418 A. brama fish samples, 558 fish [63.19%] of the former and 67 fish [16.02%] of the latter were infected. The rate of infection was significantly lower in winter [p<0.01]. Also, the weight of infected fish was significantly lower than noninfected ones [p<0.01]. Moreover, the infection in northwest of Iran was significantly higher than north of Iran [p<0.01]. The family of Diphyllobothriidae is an important cestode and the prevention programs to break the cycle of infection are essential. More suitable solutions to tackle the problem, further epidemiological studies on other fresh water sources of Iran are needed
Subject(s)
Animals , Cyprinidae , Cestoda , Fishes/parasitology , Epidemiologic StudiesABSTRACT
Nosemosis of European honey bee [Apis mellifera] is present in bee colonies worldwide. Until recently, Nosema apis had been regarded as the causative agent of the disease, that causes heavy economic losses in apicultures. Nosema ceranae is an emerging microsporidian parasite of European honeybees, A. mellifera, but its distribution is not well known. Previously, nosemosis in honeybees in Iran was attributed axclusively to N. apis. Six Nosema positive samples [determined from light microscopy of spores] of adult worker bees from one province of Iran [Savadkouh - Mazandaran, northern Iran] were tested to determine Nosema species using previously- developed PCR primers of the 16 S rRNA gene. As it is difficult to distinguish N. ceranae and N. apis morphlogically, a PCR assay based on 16 S ribosomal RNA has been used to differentiate N. apis and N. ceranae. Only N. ceranae was found in all samples, indicating that this species present in Iran apiaries. This is the first report of N. ceranae in colonies of A. mellifera in Iran. It seems that intensive surveys are needed to determine the distribution and prevalence of N. ceranae in different regions of Iran
ABSTRACT
Red foxes and golden jackals are the two most abundant wild carnivores of Iran which have the ability to adopt a variety of habitats and human proximity. Despite this, very few investigations on their helminth and none on their external parasites infections have been carried out in Iran. Between 2003 and 2004, a total of 79 jackals and 37 foxes were collected from 3 different climatic zones of Iran and examined for helminth and ectoparasite infections. A number of parasites including: Mesocestoides lineatus, Taenia hydatigena, Dipylidium caninum, Diplopylidium nolleri, Ancylostoma caninum, Uncinaria stenocephala, Toxocara canis, Onicola canis, Dirofilaria immitis, Rhipicephalus sp., Ctenocephalides canis and Pulex irritans were common parasites between jackals and foxes, whereas Echinococcus granulosus, Spirocerca lupi, Rictularia affinis, Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus, Dermacentor sp. parasitized jackals and Jeuyoxiella pasquali, Ixodes ricinus, Haemaphysalis sp. were collected only from foxes. All ectoparasites, S. lupi and O. canis reported from jackals and foxes in this study represent new host and distribution records