[ Cryptosporidium ryanae infection commence in Iranian cattle]

Cryptosporidium as an intracellular parasite causes severe diarrhea in calves. Several cases of cryptosporidiosis have been reported in different Iranian regions. The aim of this study was to follow cryptosporidiosis occurrence in cattle husbandries of Semnan city in lran. Fecal samples were collected from 200 cows and calves, stained by modified Ziehl-Neelsen method and the cryptosporidium oocysts' size were determined. While the collected oocysts [n=40] showed a morphology similar to cryptosporidium parvumthey were smaller than this parasite. In this respect, their mean length, width and length to width ratio were 3.44 +/- 0.06 micro m, 3.55 +/- 0.06 micro m and 1.03, respectively. By considering these characteristics and the small size of Cryptosporidium ryanae[as a key characteristic for this species] infection with this species has been suggested. However, further molecular studies would be necessary. The mean prevalence of cryptosporidiosis was 17.5%. However, in diarrheal calves, numbers of positive samples were significantly more than the other cattle. In non diarrheal cases, the infection rate was remarkably higher in cattle when compared with heifers and calves. There was not any relation between number of positive cases and type of husbandry, source of water, base of stable and sex of cattle. However, there was positive correlation between number of infected cattle and quality of basement sanitation, the way of using detergents and number of cattle in husbandry. It can be conclude that cryptosporidium ryanae may affect cattle of husbandries in some Iranian regions as Semnan. Hence, improvement of management and good sanitation of husbandry should be considered as control measures

Gastrointestinal helminthic parasites in Stray cats [Felis catus] from North of Iran

Cats play a crucial role in the epidemiology of gastrointestinal helminthic parasites and also play a major role in transmitting of these parasites through faecal contamination of soil, food or water. The aim of this study was to determine the species of gastrointestinal helminthes parasites in stray cats from a rural area of Bandar-e-Anzali, Iran. Gastrointestinal helminthes were collected from 50 necropsied stray cats [Felis catus] after capturing them by trapping from different regions of the city and humanely euthanatized in Bandar-e-Anzali, a port in the Caspian Sea in northern Iran, from March to November 2003. The prevalence of infection was 90%, with those of individual parasites being Diplopylidium nolleri 54%, Physaloptera praeputialis 32%, Ancylostoma tubaeforme 20%, Joyeuxiella pasqualei 10%, Toxocara cati 8%, Pterygodermatites affinis 6%, Ancylostoma caninum 4%, and Taenia taeniaeformis 2%. Concurrent infections with two or more parasites were recorded in 34% of the individuals. In relation to the sex, the differences were not significant. P. praeputialis, T. cati, D. nolleri and sometime J. pasqualei are the commonest Helminthes in cats. This is the first reported isolation of P. affinis and A. caninum infections from cats in Iran