[Prevalence of Neospora caninum Infection in the Intestine of Pet Dogs in Some Areas of Anhui and Zhejiang].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of Neospora caninum infection in the intestine of pet dogs in areas of Anhui and Zhejiang. METHODS: A total of 315 fecal samples from pet dogs were collected in pet clinics from April to December 2013 in Baohe District in Hefei city, Xuanzhou District in Xuancheng city, Fengyang County in Chuzhou city, Longzihu District in Bengbu city, and Si County in Suzhou City in Anhui Province, as well as in Yuhang District in Hangzhou city of Zhejiang province. All samples underwent nested-PCR targeting Neospora-specific gene NCLI-004830. The results were further confirmed by PCR amplification of N. caninum ITS1 followed by sequence analysis. RESULTS: The rate of N. caninum infection in the 315 samples was 1.59% (5/315). The infection rate in Chuzhou and Bengbu was 3.37% and 6.45%, respectively, and no N. caninum infection was found in the remaining areas. There was no association between the infection rate and the sex or age of the dogs. CONCLUSION: N. caninum infection is prevalent in pet dogs in Chuzhou and Bengbu of Anhui.

[Molecular Detection of Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium Species in Pet Dogs].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium species infection in pet dogs, and identify the G. lamblia assemblages and Cryptosporidium species. METHODS: A total of 315 fresh fecal samples were collected from pet clinics in five counties of Anhui Province and in Hangzhou of Zhejiang Province. Hemi-nested-PCR targeting the GDH gene of G. lamblia and nested-PCR targeting the SSU rRNA gene of Cryptosporidium were performed in all the fecal samples. The PCR products were sequenced and analyzed using bioinformatics methods to identify the G. lamblia assemblages and Cryptosporidium species. RESULTS: The positive rates of G. lamblia and Cryptosporidium spp. infections in the 315 fecal samples were 3.2% (10/315) and 1.6% (5/315), respectively. Specifically, the two indicators were both significantly higher in dogs ≤12 months (17.8% and 11.1%, respectively) than in adult dogs (0.7% and 0.0%)(P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the two indicators between male and female dogs. In addition, two G. lamblia assemblages were identified, assemblages B (n=6) and D (n=4). Sequence analysis of PCR products of the SSU rRNA gene showed that the five Cryptosporidium isolates were C. canis (n =5). CONCLUSION: The prevalences of G. lamblia and Cryptosporidium infection in pet dogs in Anhui and Zhejiang Provinces were 3.2 % and 1.6 %, respectively. The assemblages of G. lamblia in this study are of types B and D.