Molecular detection of Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma ovis in sheep and goat in west highland pasture of Iran

Objective:To determine the prevalence of Anaplasma marginale (A.marginale) and Anaplasma ovis from sheep and goat in different highland pasture in west of lran.Methods:From July 2015 to October 2015,370 blood samples of sheep and goat were collected fiom different regions in Hamedan province,Iran.The DNA extracted fiom blood and subsequently,16S rRNA and MSP4 genes were analyzed by nested-PCR,semi nested-PCR and RFLP methods.Results:In the PCR assessment,overall 27.5％ (102/370) of sheep and goat were positive for Anaplasma ovis and A.margiule infection,which was lower than reports from tropical and subtropical regions of lran.Statistical analysis (the Chi-square test) did not show any significant relation between infection and variables such as location,tick infestation age and sex (P ＞ 0.05).No significant correlation between the altitude and the Anaplasma species infection was found (Mann-Whitney test:P ＞ 0.05).However,Anaplasma infection in goat significantly is more than the sheep (P =0.008).Conclusions:The ecological changes affect the frequency and distribution of Anaplasma species.Furthermore,our results indicate that sheep as potential reservoirs ofA.marginale.

Molecular and serological detection of Ehrlichia canis in naturally exposed dogs in Iran: an analysis on associated risk factors / Detecção molecular e sorológica de Ehrlichia canis em cães naturalmente expostos no Irã: uma análise dos fatores de risco associados

The general aim of this study, which was conducted for the first time in Iran, was to evaluate the seroprevalence and geographical distribution of Ehrlichia canis in a dog population in Iran, followed by molecular confirmation using PCR and sequencing. Blood samples were collected from 240 dogs in different areas of Alborz and Tehran Provinces and initially analyzed using the immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) test to detect anti-Ehrlichia canis IgG antibodies. Subsequently, nested PCR was performed based on a fragment of the 16S rRNA gene of E. canis on serologically positive samples. The results showed that 40/240 dogs (16.6%) presented anti-Ehrlichia canis IgG antibodies and that nine of the blood samples from the 40 seropositive dogs (22.5%) contained E. canis DNA, which was confirmed by sequencing. The seroprevalence of E. canis tended to be higher in purebred, one to three-year-old male dogs living in the Plain zone, in rural areas; however, this difference was not statistically significant.

O objetivo geral deste estudo, que foi feito pela primeira vez no Irã, foi avaliar a soroprevalência e distribuição geográfica de Ehrlichia canis em população de cães no Irã, seguida da confirmação molecular por meio de PCR seguida de sequenciamento. Amostras de sangue de 240 cães de diferentes áreas das Províncias de Alborz e Teerã foram coletadas e, inicialmente, analisadas pelo Reação de Imunofluorescência (IFA) para detecção de anticorpos IgG anti-Ehrlichia canis Subsequentemente, uma reação do tipo nested PCR baseada em um fragmento do gene 16S rRNA de E. canis foi realizada nas amostras sorologicamente positivas. Os resultados mostraram que 40/240 cães (16,6%) apresentaram anticorpos IgG anti- Ehrlichia canis e nove (22,5%) das amostras de sangue dos 40 cães soropositivos continham DNA de E. canis, confirmado por sequenciamento. A soroprevalência de E. canis, embora não estatisticamente significativa, mostrou uma tendência em se apresentar maior em cães machos com 1-3 anos, de raça pura, que vivem em zonas planas e áreas rurais.

Epidemiological study of hydatidosis in the dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius) of different regions of Iran

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the prevalence of hydatidosis in dromedaries.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>438 dromedaries were examined in five regions of Iran from 20 March, 2010 to 19 March, 2011. The relationship between host age and the mean number of hydatid cysts, and prevalence and fertility rates was analyzed using chi-square test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>One hundred and thirty five out of 438 (30.82%) camels harboured hydatid cysts of Echinococcus granulosus. Number of cysts was 700 with 72.5% lung cyst. The highest rate of infection was that 54 (40%) of camels was found in the Khorasan Razavi region (in the north-east part of Iran) while the lowest 6 (4.4%) of camels was found in Semnan province. Infection was higher in >15 years age group. The most commonly infected organs were lungs (72.5%) followed by liver (12.6%). Both liver and lungs together constituted 14.8% of infection. A comparison found that hydatid cysts of liver had a higher fertility rate (32.57%) than that of lung (19%); while most of cysts of lung were calcified (24.42%). The mean number of protoscoleces per mL in the lung fertile cysts was higher than that of liver cysts. Fertile or sterile might be due to the different species or genotypes. The mean number of cysts in infected liver and lungs was 1-5 cysts. The intensity of infection increased with age.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The results of current study can make a background data for implementing hydatid control programs and warrant the importance of camel in public health.</p>