The prevalence and control of lungworms of pastoral ruminants in Iran:The prevalence and control of lungworms of pastoral rumi-nants in Iran

Lungworms of the genera Dictyocaulus, Muellerius, Protostrongylus, and Cystocaulus are common helminths of domestic and wild ruminants with substantial veterinary and economic importance. Several studies have assessed the presence and prevalence of lungworm infections in ruminants in Iran. This report compiles the available scientific information about the occurrence of lungworms in domestic and wild ruminants in Iran between 1931 and June 2022 to give an insight into their epidemiology, and where possible to describe drug treatment efficacy. For this purpose, national and international scientific databases were searched. Overall, 54 publications comprising 33 articles in peer-reviewed journals, 8 conference papers, and 13 dissertations were evaluated regarding prevalence data; and an additional 4 peer-reviewed articles were evaluated regarding drug efficacy. Seven species of lungworms, namely Dictyocaulus filaria, Dictyocaulus viviparus, Dictyocaulus eckerti, Protostrongylus rufescens, Protostrongylus raillietti, Muellerius capillaris, and Cystocaulus ocreatus have been recorded from different ruminant hosts in Iran. Thirty-three studies conducted on small ruminant (sheep and goat) lungworms reported prevalences of lungworm infection of 11.6%, 45.81% and 66.29% using abattoir meat inspection, Baermann technique and fecal flotation, respectively. Eight studies conducted on large ruminants (cattle and water buffalo) reported prevalences of infection of 14.83%, 13.98% and 5% using abattoir meat inspection, the Baermann technique and fecal flotation, respectively. The prevalence of infection in wild ruminants was variable across examined species; 38% in urial, 37% in wild goats, 5% in goitered gazelles and 67% in red deer, in addition to a single case report in roe deer. There are few contemporary studies assessing the efficacy of currently available broad-spectrum anthelmintic compounds against lungworms in Iran. The high prevalence of multiple lungworm species in Iran, combined with a lack of information about drug efficacy, supports the need to improve the understanding of these important nematode parasites and inform the development of sustainable control strategies. The aim of this review and meta-analysis is to provide a baseline for future conventional parasitology and next generation molecular epidemiological studies of lungworm infection in pastoral ruminants in Iran

Primjena ugniježđene lančane reakcije polimerazom za dokaz specifičnog slijeda genoma virusa slinavke i šapa u tonzilama klinički zdravih zaklanih goveda u Iranu.

Persistent or inapparent infection, the so-called carrier state, is an important feature of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in ruminants. This may occur in non-vaccinated as well as in vaccinated ruminants following exposure to infectious FMD virus. Although the amount of infective virus that can be recovered from carriers is small, the virus can be present in some ruminants for months and in cattle for years. FMD is enzootic in Iran. The present study was carried out for determination of FMD viral genome in clinically normal cattle slaughtered at Zyaran Abattoir. A total of 133 tonsil tissue samples was collected and total RNA was extracted from each sample individually. RT-PCR and subsequently nested-PCR were carried out on each sample using FMDV specific primers from the 3D-3A region. A 222 bp DNA fragment was amplified from positive samples. Of the 133 tonsil tissue samples, 46 were found positive. Results indicated that the frequency of FMD carriers among tested animals is 34.59%. Statistical analysis did not show any significant differences (P>0.05) between positive samples in relation to sex, age and breed. The high frequency of carriers could be due to extensive FMDV circulation among susceptible animals. This finding suggests that, at least at present, full vaccination coverage is required for domestic ruminants in Iran to increase their resistance to field virus exposures.Perzistentna ili inaparentna infekcija, odnosno kliconoštvo, važna je značajka slinavke i šapa (SiŠ-a) u preživača. Ona se može javiti u necijepljenih i cijepljenih životinja nakon izlaganja infekciji virusom SiŠ-a. Iako je količina infektivnoga virusa koji se izlučuje iz životinje kliconoše mala, virus može biti prisutan u nekih preživača mjesecima, a u goveda godinama. SiŠ se u Iranu javlja enzootski. Istraživanje je provedeno da bi se dokazao genom virusa SiŠ-a u klinički zdravih goveda zaklanih na klaonici Zyaran. Pretražena su 133 uzorka tkiva tonzila. Svaki uzorak bio je pretražen najprije lančanom reakcijom polimerazom uz prethodnu reverznu transkripciju, a potom ugniježđenom lančanom reakcijom polimerazom upotrebom specifičnih molekulapočetnica od 3D do 3A područja. Odsječak DNA od 222 bazna para bio je umnožen iz pozitivnih uzoraka. Od 133 pretražena uzorka, 46 je bilo pozitivnih. Kliconoštvo je bilo ustanovljeno u 34,59% pretraženih životinja. Nije ustanovljena statistički značajna razlika (P>0,05) u pozitivnih životinja s obzirom na spol, dob i pasminu. Velika učestalost kliconoštva može se pripisati znatnom kruženju virusa među prijemljivim životinjama. Rezultati upućuju na zaključak da je zasada potrebno cijepiti sve domaće preživače u Iranu protiv SiŠ-a radi povećanja njihove otpornosti prema terenskom virusu

Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii infections in one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius) in central desert of Iran.

The protozoan parasite Neospora caninum infects carnivores as definitive and a wide range of mammals as intermediate hosts. This parasite is regarded as an important cause of abortion in cattle worldwide, causing significant economic losses. Although there is serological evidence of infection in Old World camelids, the significance of N. caninum in these animal species is still poorly understood. The aim of this study was to use molecular and histological methods to detect N. caninum in the blood and tissues of 100 slaughtered one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Iran. For this, genomic DNA was extracted from blood, brain, portal lymph node and liver of the camels, and nested-PCR assay followed by sequencing were performed. Besides, paraffin-embedded tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and studied microscopically. In addition, immunohistochemical staining for N. caninum was attempted on brain samples with positive PCR results. All animals were tested for antibodies against N. caninum and Toxoplasma gondii by whole tachyzoite-agglutination tests. N. caninum DNA was detected in blood, brain, and portal lymph node, but not in the liver of two (2%) camels. Histopathological examination revealed cysts resembling N. caninum in brain samples of one of these camels; however, immunohistochemical staining for N. caninum and T. gondii did not allow a morphological identification. IgG antibodies to N. caninum and T. gondii were detected in 36% and 35% of the camels, respectively. This study provides the first insight into direct detection of N. caninum in C. dromedarius in Iran. Further molecular studies on aborted fetuses, stillborn animals and cases of perinatal mortality are needed to understand the possible involvement of N. caninum in cases of reproductive failure. As the definitive hosts of N. caninum are domestic and wild canids, producers should be advised to monitor and limit exposure of their camelids to these species and their feces