Prevalence of Cryptosporidium-like infection in one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius) of northwestern Iran

Cryptosporidium is a ubiquitous enteropathogen protozoan infection affecting livestock worldwide. The present study was carried out to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in different age groups of dromedary camels in northwestern Iran from November 2009 to July 2010. A total number of 170 fecal samples were collected and examined using modified Ziehl-Neelsen (MZN) staining under light microscope. Examination of stained fecal smears revealed that 17 camels (10%) were positive for Cryptosporidium-like. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium-like was significantly higher in camel calves (< 1 years old) (20%) than other age groups, in which the diarrhoeic calves had the prevalence of 16%. In adult camels the prevalence was 6.5%. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of Cryptosporidium-like between male and female camels. It is concluded that Cryptosporidium infection is a problem in camel husbandry and could be of public health concern in the region

Prevalence of

Cryptosporidium is a ubiquitous enteropathogen protozoan infection affecting livestock worldwide. The present study was carried out to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in different age groups of dromedary camels in northwestern Iran from November 2009 to July 2010. A total number of 170 fecal samples were collected and examined using modified Ziehl-Neelsen (MZN) staining under light microscope. Examination of stained fecal smears revealed that 17 camels (10%) were positive for Cryptosporidium-like. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium-like was significantly higher in camel calves (< 1 years old) (20%) than other age groups, in which the diarrhoeic calves had the prevalence of 16%. In adult camels the prevalence was 6.5%. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of Cryptosporidium-like between male and female camels. It is concluded that Cryptosporidium infection is a problem in camel husbandry and could be of public health concern in the region

Epidemiology of Eimeria species in selected broiler farms of Khoy suburb, West Azarbaijan Province, Iran

Intestinal coccidiosis, caused by Eimeria species, is an economically-important disease of poultry production industry worldwide. This study was designed to investigate the prevalence of different Eimeria species in the farmed broilers of Khoy city, West Azarbaijan, North West Iran. A total of 26 broiler farms of different production capacities were arbitrarily selected and examined in 2013. In each of the farms, Litters of two broilers farms were randomly sampled twice a week and examined. The intensity of infection with each of the Eimeria species was assessed on the basis of number of oocysts per gram of litter using Clayton-Lane and McMaster methods. Eimeria species diversity was determined by using oocyst sporulation technique in 2% potassium dichromate solution. Results indicated that 23.08% (6/26) of the broiler farms were infected with Eimeria oocysts. The maximum litter infection rate (7.5×103) was observed in fifth week of the rearing period. The litter infection rate was significantly correlated with kinds of water dispenser, feeder, ventilation, and density. The litters were infected with five Eimeria species; E. maxima (32.67%) in 6 farms (23.07%), E. mitis (24%) in 6 farms (23.07%), E. acervulina (18%) in 5 farms (19.23%), E. tenella (14.67%) in 4 farms (15.38%), and E. necatrix (10.67%) in 3 farms (11.58%). Results of this study uncovered high rates of litter infection with various Eimeria species in the studied farms, suggesting the establishment of firm health management strategies in the region

The prevalence and intensity of Eimeria spp. infection in sheep of Malayer suburb, Iran

ABSTRACT The prevalence of Eimeria spp. infection and the intensity of fecal oocysts were determined in 250 sheep in Malayer suburb of Iran using flotation and sporulation techniques. The overall prevalence was 23.23% in which the young male sheep had the highest prevalence (37.61%) with the highest intensity (63.58%). There were no significant difference in the prevalence between male (27.9%) and female (22.93%) in all age groups (P&gt;0.05). The young sheep had significantly higher oocysts counts than the other groups (P&lt;0.05). Diarrhea had positive correlation with infection in all age groups. Also positive correlation was found between diarrhea, infection and intensity in young sheep (P&lt;0.05). The highest percentage belonged to the E. intricata (39%), followed by E. faurei (16%), E. ovina (16%), E. parva (12%), E. pallida (7%), E. ahsata (6%) and E. ovinoidalis (4%). No correlations were found between temperature and rainfall with intensity in all age groups (P&gt;0.05). The results of this investigation indicate that Eimeria infection is a problem in sheep in Malayer suburb and further studies will reveal more information about economic effects of this parasite which it will be useful for establishing control programs

PCR-RELP for detecting of Theileria annulata infection in cattle and Hyalomma species in Kermanshah Province, Iran

Bovine theileriosis is important disease in tropical and subtropical areas with great economic losses in livestock husbandry in Iran. The aim of study was to assess the prevalence of Theileria annulata infection in cattle and Hyalomma species of Kermanshah Province, Iran. A number of 138 blood samples were randomly taken from examined cattle. The genomic DNA was extracted and PCR was performed to specifically amplify a 721-bp-long fragment of the 30 Kilo Dalton major merozoite surface antigen (30 KDa msa) of T. annulata. The amplified products were digested with TaqI, Rasl, and AluI restriction enzymes. Overall prevalence was 9.44% (13/138) with lymphadnopathy (1.17%) and pale mucosal membrane (1.9%) in Holstein cattle aged <1 year and more than 5 years-old, respectively. Five species of genus Hyalomma (18.8%, 141/750) including Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum (30.4%), H. anatolicum excavatum (31.2%), H. marginatum (36.8%), H. asiaticum asiaticum (0.7%), and H. detritum (0.7%) were identified. The tick indices for each Hyalomma species were ranged from 0.01 to 0.36. PCR findings indicated that 3 out of 138 blood samples (2.17%) and 19 out of 141 Hyalomma ticks (4.13%) were infected with T. annulata. Amplified PCR products from blood samples generated similar RFLP patterns, but different RFLP pattern for T. annulata from H. anatolicum anatolicum (9.21%) and H. anatolicum excavatum (4.2%). The RFLP patterns of the amplified fragment of the 30 KDa msa of T. annulata indicated the circulation of four different T. annulata isolates of H. anatolicum anatolicum and H. anatolicum excavatum in the region

Molecular detection of the infection with Fasciola hepatica in field-collected snails of Galba truncatula and Lymnaea stagnalis from West Azarbaijan, Iran

The liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica, is considered as the most common cause of fasciolosis in both domestic livestock and human. This study was carried out to detect the prevalence of the larval stages of F. hepatica in the snails Galba truncatula and Lymnaea stagnalis in West Azarbaijan, Iran. Snail collection was performed through searching 28 freshwater habitats from May to December 2010. Following the identification of the two snail species, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was utilized to amplify the 28SrRNA gene of F. hepatica in the snails’ tissues. The amplified DNA fragment was subjected to restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. According to the RFLP patterns, 16.6% of the examined G. truncatula and 1.1% of L. stagnalis were infected by F. hepatica. While there was not detected infection with larval stages of F. gigantica in any examined snails. The RFLP analysis of 28SrRNA gene was proven to be a useful tool for detection of the infection and its transmission by the intermediate hosts, and can help with the establishment of suitable control programs against fasciolosis in livestock and human in any region of interest