Parasitic Helminths in Wild Boars (Sus scrofa) in Mazandaran Province, Northern Iran

Background: Wild boars (Sus scrofa) are distributed worldwide and found in many parts of Iran. Although S. scrofa is reservoirs for many parasites, there is little data on helminthic prevalence in them. We aimed to survey the status of helminthic infections in S. scrofa in the Mazandaran Province of northern Iran. Methods: Twenty-one wild boars were captured and examined for helminth infection during Dec 2012-Mar 2014. Adult worms such as Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus were identified by helminth size and shape, and the arrangement of the proboscis hooks. The sedimentation and flotation techniques were used to detect parasite eggs and larvae in faecal samples. Muscle samples were also surveyed for Trichinella larvae by artificial digestion method. Results: Of the 21 samples, 13 (61.9%) were infected with one or more helminth species. Seven helminth types were identified in the alimentary track, comprising 5 nematodes, 1 trematode, and 1 acanthocephalan, with prevalence rates of Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus (57.14%), Globocephalus spp. (33.33%), Trichuris suis (19.04), Gongylonema pulchrum (14.28%), Fasciola hepatica (14.28%), Dioctophyma renale (4.76%), and Ascaris suum (4.76%). Conclusion: Wild boars might be involved in transmitting zoonotic parasites to humans. The abundance of these animals near human habitation creates favorable conditions for infection. So the risk of parasitic helminth diseases increases in other animals and humans

Domestic dogs carriers of Leishmania infantum, Leishmania tropica and Crithidia fasciculata as potential reservoirs for human visceral leishmaniasis in northeastern Iran

Abstract Background In recent years, cases of human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) have been reported in some districts of Golestan Province, northeastern Iran, particularly in rural areas. Recent epidemiological evidence in Leishmania infantum endemic regions of in Iran indicates approximately 50%–80% of seropositive dogs are asymptomatic for Leishmania infection. Objectives The goal in this study was to determine Leishmania species infecting domestic dogs in Golestan Province, Iran. Methods Between 2015 and 2016, blood samples were obtained from 100 domestic dogs in rural regions of Golestan Province, northeastern Iran. All samples were tested for anti‐Leishmania antibodies using a direct agglutination test (DAT), and for Leishmania spp. kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) using PCR. Results Seven (7%) dogs were antibody positive and 25 dogs (25%) were Leishmania spp. DNA positives by PCR positive for leishmaniasis. Four of the seven (71%) antibody‐positive dogs and 19 of the 25 (76%) PCR‐positive dogs were asymptomatic. The rate of infection detected by PCR was significantly higher in male dogs (21/75, 28%) than that in female dogs (4/25, 16%). The ITS1 PCR‐RFLP assay identified the presence of L. infantum, L. tropica or Crithidia spp. in the 25 PCR‐positive samples. Conclusions The high proportion of asymptomatic dogs in the study areas represent they act as potential reservoirs in the transmission cycle of Leishmania spp. and also Crithidia fasciculata as an emerging agent for the first time. Moreover, our data showed that PCR is a more reliable assay than DAT for detecting Leishmania spp. infection among asymptomatic dogs

Forest plot of seroprevalence rates of toxoplasmosis in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

<p>* Patients under treatment.</p

Baseline characteristics of the included studies in the systematic review and meta-analysis of the relationship between <i>T</i>. <i>gondii</i> infection and RA patients.

<p>Baseline characteristics of the included studies in the systematic review and meta-analysis of the relationship between <i>T</i>. <i>gondii</i> infection and RA patients.</p

Forest plot of seroprevalence rates of toxoplasmosis in controls groups.

<p>* Patients under treatment.</p

Toxoplasmosis seroprevalence in rheumatoid arthritis patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

<div><p>Background</p><p>Toxoplasmosis is a cosmopolitan infection caused by an intracellular obligatory protozoan, <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>. Infection to this parasite in immunocompetent patients is usually asymptomatic, but today it is believed that the infection can be a risk factor for a variety of diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is an autoimmune disease and the most common type of inflammatory arthritis that is a major cause of disability. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to address the association between RA and toxoplasmosis in light of the available research.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Based on the keywords, a systematic search of eight databases was conducted to retrieve the relevant English-language articles. Then, the studies were screened based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The random effect model was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) using forest plot with 95% confidence interval (CI).</p><p>Results</p><p>Overall, 4168 Individual, extracted from 9 articles were included for systematic review evaluation, with 1369 RA patients (46% positive toxoplasmosis) and 2799 individuals as controls (21% positive toxoplasmosis). Then, eight articles (10 datasets) were used for meta-analysis (1244 rheumatoid arthritis patients and 2799 controls). By random effect model, the combined OR was 3.30 (95% CI: 2.05 to 5.30) with P < 0.0001.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Although toxoplasmosis could be considered as a potential risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis, more and better quality studies are needed to determine the effect of <i>T. gondii</i> infection on induction or exacerbation of RA. Our study was registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; code: CRD42017069384).</p></div

Data extracted from the included studies in the meta-analysis for an association between toxoplasmosis and RA.

<p>Data extracted from the included studies in the meta-analysis for an association between toxoplasmosis and RA.</p

Sensitivity analysis for assessing the effect of each primary study on the total estimates.

<p>* Patients under treatment.</p