ABSTRACT
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
ABSTRACT
Cryptosporidium parvum is a zoonotic protozoan parasite with a wide range of vertebrate hosts. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium parvum in urban and rural dogs of the Ahvaz area. Faecal samples were collected randomly from 93 dogs between May 2005 and September 2007. The studied dogs were divided into two groups [urban and rural] and based on age into three groups [<6 months, 6 months -3 years and >3 years]. The results were analyzed by using Chi-square analysis and Fischer's exact test. Prevalence to Cryptosporidium parvum antigens was 4.3% [4 of 93] by means of ELISA, indicating that this antigen is present in the ecosystem. The infection was more prevalent in rural dogs [6.4%; 3 of 47] in comparison with urban dogs [2.17%; 1 of 46], nevertheless, there were no significant differences between the different groups [P?0.05], but the infection was more prevalent in diarrheic dogs [17.65%; 3 of 17] compared with non-diarrheic dogs [1.3%; 1 of 76], and the difference was significant [P=0.019]. Infection was not significant in the different age groups [P>0.05]. Concurrent detection of cryptosporidium parvum with canine distemper [one sample] and parvovirus [one sample] were shown in the studied dogs. Modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining was also carried out and the prevalence of infection was 2.15% [2 of 93]. The use of ELISA allowed the detection of more positive cases than light microscopy. This study showed that Cryptosporidium parvum can be a risk factor, particularly for those dogs in contact together in the population of urban and rural dogs
ABSTRACT
Cats play crucial roles in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis. In the present study, a total of 198 companion cats of different ages were examined for serum antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii by immunochromatography assay and for oocyst presence in faeces by microscopic examination [flotation method] and immunochromatography assay. The cats were selected between referred cases to the veterinary Hospital of Ahvaz University, southwestern Iran from December 2006 to November 2009. Classification was made by age, sex, breed, region and season. The studied cats were divided into three groups based on age [<6 months, 6months -3 years and >3 years] and into five regions based on area [north, east, west, south and central]. The results were analyzed by Chi-square analysis, Fischer's exact test and Z test. Forty nine of 198 serum samples [24.75%] had antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii [955 CI: 18.7-30.7%]. Prevalence was significantly higher in adult cats above 3 years [38.8%] and 6 months-3 years [26.6%] compared with cats less than 6 months [3.8%] [P<0.001]. Prevalence was higher in male cats [29.7%] than females [20.6%], in less than 6 months [3.8%] [P<0.001]. Prevalence was higher in male cats [29.7%] than females [20.6%], in the summer season [26.2%] and west region [27.5], but the difference was not significant between the prevalence of infection relative to host gender [P=0.14], season [P=0.99] and region [P=0.98]. Faecal flotation technique and immunochromatography assay was carried out on faecal samples also and T. gondii oocysts were not detected in any of the 198 samples. Our study showed that the prevalence of infection [24.75%] is relatively high in serum of companion cats in the Ahvaz district
ABSTRACT
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
Subject(s)
Animals , Dirofilaria immitis , Dirofilariasis/diagnosis , Risk Factors , Dogs , MicrofilariaeABSTRACT
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
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Female , Prevalence , Cats/parasitology , Giardiasis/diagnosis , Feces/parasitologyABSTRACT
Wolbachia is an obligatory, intracellular alpha-proteobacterium which infect the reproductive and somatic tissues of some arthropod and nematode populations. Because there are not any available data on the presence of this bacterium in Iran, the present study was done to determine the presence of this bacterium among 30 species of arthropods and nematodes. After DNA extraction from samples, we screened Wolbachia spp. with specific primers using PCR method. A total of 770 arthropods [of 22 genera] and 41 nematodes [of 6 genera] were screened for Wolbachia. Overall 167 arthropod samples [18 colonies] from 7 genera and 1 nematode sample were found positive. Positive PCR products of 16S rDNA gene were digested with RsaI restriction enzyme and the types of Wolbachia were recognized as A supergroup of Wolbachia
ABSTRACT
To evaluate coagglutination test in the serum and urine of sheep for diagnosing of hydatidosis. Experimental study. Two rabbits, three dogs and nineteen sheep. Ovine hydatid cysts from affected livers and lungs, were collected from Ahwaz abattoir [Khozestan province, Iran]. The hydatid fluid [HF] and protoscolces were aseptically obtained in lab. Hydatid fluid was centrifuged and injected to rabbits in two steps. After then, rabbit hyperimmune sera were collected. Furthermore, each dog was given 15,000 viable protoscoleces. Less than two months later, dogs were autopsied after euthanasia and all Echinococcus granulosus worms were collected and their eggs were released. Almost, 2000 eggs were orally administred to each [N= 13]. The six other sheep were kept as control. All sheep were bled each week and their urine samples were collected fortnight. All sera and urine samples were examined with coagglutination [Co.A] test. While sensitivity of coagglutination test, was nil during five weeks of post-infection [p.i.], its values showed a biphasic pattern. While, it increased up to 23% in the sixth week and after then up to 100% in the 12th and 13th week of p.i. it decreased in the following weeks. Specificity of test was 100% throughout the experiment. While examination of urine in the affected sheep resulted in positive reaction from 6th week of p.i, its sensitivity and the sensitivity gradually increased up to 100% at 12th week of p.i. Furthermore, specificity of the test for urine of non-infected sheep remained 100%. These results suggest that the time of appearance of hydatid antigens in serum and urine is approximately alike. While positive results are very valuable, negative ones do not rule out hydatidosis