[Diagnosis of Dirofilaria immitis infection in urban and rural dogs in Ahvaz city by counterimmunoelectrophoresis]

Dirofilaria immitis is a nematode that is highly prevalent in dogs and it can cause dirofilariosis. The disease is transmissible to human, so it is important in terms of public health. The aim of the present study was to diagnose Dirofilaria immitis infection in the dog population of urban and rural areas of Ahvaz by counterimmunoelectrophoresis and compared with knott test. In the present study, serum of 200 dogs [80 urban and 120 rural], were evaluated for detection of Dirofilaria immitis infection, in Ahvaz area, Southwestern Iran. Counterimmunoelectrophoresis and modified knott's test were conducted on all blood samples to trace the antibody and microfilariae. Using counterimmunoelectrophoresis test, 9.5 percent of dogs [19 cases] were infected, but in modified Knott test, positive cases were detected 8 percent [16 cases]. Counterimmunoelectrophoresis test showed three more positive cases [one urban and two rural dogs] compared with the modified Knott test, which probably was due to occult infection. However, the difference was not significant [p>0.05]. Based on the results of counterimmunoelectrophoresis test, 6.25 percent of male and zero percent of female dogs in urban areas and 13 percent of male and 7.6 percent of female dogs in rural areas were infected respectively. The highest prevalence of infection in 6 year-or-more age groups was 23.3 and 14.29 percent in urban and rural dogs respectively. Statistical analysis did not show any significant relationship between infection and factors such as age and sex of the studied dogs [p>0.05]. It is proposed that for more accurate diagnosis of dirofilariosis, counterimmunoelectrophoresis test and the modified knott's test be used simultaneously

survey on ectoparasite infestations in companion dogs of Ahvaz district, south-west of Iran

The objective was to determine the prevalence of ectoparasite infestations in referred companion dogs to veterinary hospital of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, from 2009 to 2010. A total of 126 dogs were sampled for ectoparasites and examined by parasitological methods. The studied animals were grouped based on the age [< 1 year, 1-3 years and > 3 years], sex, breed and region Thirty six out of 126 referred dogs [28.57%] were positive for external ectoparasites. The most common ectoparasites were Heterodoxus spinigera, which were recorded on 11 dogs [8.73%]. Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Sarcoptes scabiei, Otodectes cynotis, Xenopsylla cheopis, Cetenocephalides canis, Cetenocephalides felis, Hippobosca sp. and myiasis [L3 of Lucilia sp.] were identified on 9 [7.14%], 7 [5.56%], 6 [4.76%], 3 [2.38%], 3 [2.38%], 2 [1.59%], 2 [1.59%] and one [0.79%] of the studied dogs respectively. Mixed infestation with two species of ectoparasites was recorded on 8 [6.35%]. Prevalence was higher in male dogs [35.82%; 24 out of 67] than females [20.34%; 12 out of 59], age above 3 years [31.81%; 7 out of 22] and in the season of winter [30.95%; 13 out of 42], but the difference was not significant regarding to host gender, age and season [P > 0.05]. Apparently this is the first study conducted in companion dogs of Ahvaz District, South-west of Iran. Our results indicated that lice and ticks were the most common ectoparasites in dogs of this area. The zoonotic nature of some ectoparasites can be regard as a public health alert

Introducing alphitobius diaperinus, [insecta: tenebrionidae] as a new intermediate host of hadjelia truncata [Nematoda]

Hadjelia truncata is a nematode that causes lesions in the gizzard lining of pigeons, which may even lead to death. The aim of this study was to introduce Alphitobius diaperinus as a new intermediate host for Hadjelia truncata. H. truncata infection was identified in a pigeon flock in Ahvaz City, Khuzestan Province, Iran by performing fecal examination and autopsy. Adult and larval stages of beetles were collected from the litter of pigeon houses, and identified morphologically. The beetle larvae were cultured in a medium, containing feces of the infected pigeons. Nematode larval stages from naturally and experimentally [culturally] infected adult beetles were fed to two groups of pigeons. The collected beetles were identified as Alphitobius diaperinus. Average length and width of the adult beetles were 6.31 mm and 2.88 mm respectively. Infection rates of naturally and experimentally infected beetles with larval stages of the nematode were 66.2% and 45.1% respectively. The adult nematodes collected from gizzards of experimentally infected pigeons were identified as H. truncata. Nematode infection rates in pigeons after feeding the infective larvae collected from naturally and experimentally infected beetles were 44.7% and 32.5% respectively. A. diaperinus can serve as a natural intermediate host for H. truncata

Prevalence of giardia duodenalis infection in household cats of Ahvaz district, south-west of Iran

The occurrence of Giardia duodenalis in cats is of potential significance from both clinical and public health perspectives. The object of this study was antigenic detection of G. duodenalis in house hold cats of Ahvaz district, South-West of Iran. The prevalence of G. duodenalis was determined in fecal samples by two techniques: centrifugation-flotation and a commercial Giardia Antigen Test Kit [immunochromatography assay] in 150 household cats of different ages among referred cases to Veterinary Hospital of Ahvaz University from January 2008 to February 2010. Five out of 150 fecal samples [3.33%] were positive for antigen of G. duodenalis by immunochromatography assay. The prevalence was significantly higher in young cats less than 6 months [15.79%] compared with adult cats 6 months - 3 years [1.37%] [P=0.027] and above 3 years [1.72%] [P=0.044]. The infection had more prevalence in diarrheic cats [17.39%] compared with non-diarrheic cats [0.79%] and the difference was significant [P=0.02] as well. The prevalence was higher in male cats [3.41%] than females [3.23%] and in the season of autumn [6.06%], but the difference was not significant between the prevalence of infection relative to host gender and season [P>0.05]. Microscopy examination on fecal samples showed that 2% of the studied cats were positive. The parasite antigen was present as a zoonotic infection in Ahvaz district, South-west of Iran. More sensitive techniques, such as immunochromatography assay, might yield more reliable results, in the detection of low levels of Giardia in fecal samples of cats

study on Dirofilaria immitis in healthy urban dogs from Ahvaz, Iran

Heartworm infection is one of the most important parasitic diseases in dogs and an increasing number of cases are reported each year by necropsy in Ahvaz. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis infection and to investigate the risk factors related to heartworm disease in urban dogs in this area. Blood samples were collected from 100 dogs from Feb 2007 to Feb 2008. All samples were examined by modified Knott test, direct smear and antigen detection [Immunochromatographic antigen rapid canine D. immitis Ag Test Kit] technique to detect circulating microfilaria and adult antigen of D. immitis, respectively. Of the total 100 dogs, 1% were positive by direct smear, 5% were positive by modified Knott test and 6% were positive by antigen detection. In addition, 1% of positive dogs were determined to have occult D. immitis infections. Dirofilaria immitis was the only canine filarial parasite present in this study. From these three methods, modified Knott test, due to microfilarial identification on concentrated blood had the highest validity. The difference between outdoor and indoor dogs was found significant [P = 0.033], whereas no statistically significant differences were observed between different age groups, sexes and breeds [P>0.05]. The highest heartworm prevalence by modified Knott test was observed in older than 6-year-old dogs [8.3%] followed by 3-6 years [2.7%] and the 6-month to 3 years [3.5%] age groups. The infection was more prevalent in males and short haired breeds. Our results suggest that heartworm treatment and preventive care should be considered in urban dogs of Ahvaz, Iran