Aims: In this study, we examined stool specimen from a 3-year-old domesticated dog, which was referred to a veterinary clinic with clinical signs such as nausea or vomiting, dysentery, cachexia and rash in Mashhad city, northeast of Iran. Patient &amp; Methods: A 3-year-old pet dog was referred to veterinary clinic of Mashhad in February 2016 by symptoms including, nausea or vomiting, dysentery, cachexia and rash in Mashhad City, Northeast of Iran. For parasitological examination, formalin-ether concentration technique was used. Fecal smears were made from the sediment, stained with iodine and observed by light microscope. Modified Ziehl Neelsen method was used for the detection of Cryptosporidium spp. Findings: The animal was infected with 10 disease-causing parasites; Taenia spp., Fasciola spp., Dicrocoelium dendriticum, Acanthocephal spp., Trichuris vulpis, Hook worm, Giardia spp., Blastocystis spp., Eimeria spp., and Cystoisospora spp. Conclusion: Domestic and stray dog could be an important sources for distribution of zoonoses disease especially parasitic agents

Falahati, M.

Ghomashlooyan, M.

Hejazi, S.H.

Hooshyar, H.

Mohaghegh, M.A.

kashan university of medical sciences

ISSN: 2383-2568  Quarterly of International Archives of Health Sciences 2016;3(2):83-85
C I T A T I O N    L I N K S
Article HistoryReceived: April 8, 2016Accepted: June 1, 2016ePublished: June 22, 2016
Correspondence
Address:  Medicine School, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, He-zar Jerib Avenue, Isfahan, Iran. Post-al Code: 81746-73461
Phone:  +983142646850
Fax:  +983155541112mgn1370@yahoo.com
*Parasitology & Mycology Depart-ment, Medicine School, Isfahan Uni-versity of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran1Parasitology & Mycology Depart-ment, Medicine School, Isfahan Uni-versity of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran2Parasitology Departments, Medicine School, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran3Skin Diseases & Leishmaniasis Re-search Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
[1] Estimation of canine intestinal parasites in Cordoba (Spain) and their risk to public health [2] Ecological analysis and description of the intestinal helminths present in dogs in Mexico City [3] The role of companion animals in the emergence of parasitic zoonoses 
[4] Health enhancement and companion animal ownership [5] An epidemiological study of gastrointestinal parasites of dogs from Southern Greater Buenos Aires (Argentina): age, gender, breed, mixed infections, and seasonal and spatial patterns [6] The prevalence of intestinal parasites in dogs from Prague, rural areas, and shelters of the Czech Republic [7] Seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii infection among patients admitted to Al-Zahra hospital, Isfahan, Iran [8] Pulmonary hydatid cyst: Analysis of 1024 cases [9] Echinococcosis/hydatidosis in Iran [10] The present status of human helminthic diseases in Iran [11] Soil contamination with Toxocara spp. eggs in the public parks of Isfahan City, Central Iran [12] Canine gastrointestinal parasitic zoonoses in India
Aims In this study, we examined stool specimen from a 3-year-old domesticated dog, which was referred to a veterinary clinic with clinical signs such as nausea or vomiting, dysentery, cachexia and rash in Mashhad city, northeast of Iran.
Patient & Methods A 3-year-old pet dog was referred to veterinary clinic of Mashhad in February 2016 by symptoms including, nausea or vomiting, dysentery, cachexia and rash in Mashhad City, Northeast of Iran. For parasitological examination, formalin-ether concentration technique was used. Fecal smears were made from the sediment, stained with 
iodine and observed by light microscope. Modiﬁed Ziehl Neelsen method was used for the detection of Cryptosporidium spp. 
Findings The animal was infected with 10 disease-causing parasites; Taenia spp., Fasciola spp., Dicrocoeliumdendriticum,  Acanthocephal spp., Trichuris vulpis, Hook worm, Giardia spp., Blastocystis spp., Eimeria spp., and Cystoisospora spp.
Conclusion Domestic and stray dog could be an important sources for distribution of zoonoses disease especially parasitic agents.
A B S T R A C TA R T I C L E    I N F O
Article TypeCase Report
AuthorsMohaghegh M.A.1 PhD,Falahati M.1 BSc,Hooshyar H.2 PhD,Hejazi S.H.3 PhD,Ghomashlooyan M.* MSc
 Keywords  Dog Diseases; Pets; Echinococcus granulosus; Toxocara canis
How to cite this articleMohaghegh M.A, Falahati M,Hooshyar H, Hejazi S.H, Ghomashlooyan M. A Dog with Multiple Infections of Enteric Parasitic Zoonosis in Mashhad City, North-East of Iran; a CaseReport. International Archives of Health Sciences. 2016;3(2):83-85.
A Dog with Multiple Infections of Enteric Parasitic 
Zoonosis in Mashhad City, North-East of Iran; a 
Case Report
©2016 ASP Ins., Afarand Scholarly Publishing Institute, Iran
Copyright© 2016 ASP Ins. This open-access article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 
4.0 International License which permits Share (copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format) and Adapt (remix, transform, 
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A Dog with Multiple Infections of Enteric Parasitic Zoonosis in Mashhad City, North-East of Iran…                     84 
Int Arch Health Sci                             Spring 2016, Vol. 3, Iss. 2 
Introduction 
Pets play an important role in increasing the 
psychological and physiological well-being of 
many people in modern societies [1-3]. Recent 
studies show that pet owners visit the 
physicians less often and their blood pressure 
and cholesterol levels are lower than non-pet 
owners [4].  
Although pets have substantial benefits for 
their owners, there are many health risks 
associated with having owning a pet. Bites, 
scratches and allergies are the most common 
health risks. However, the whole range of 
infections, especially parasitic agents can be 
transmitted from these animals to humans [5, 
6]. Recent studies have revealed that 
prevalence of parasitic diseases is higher in 
younger animals and those who originate 
from refuges and shelters [5].  
Puppies are frequently provided by families 
with children, so the risk of parasitic 
infections goes higher by having animals and 
increases the chances of infection for people 
with close contact with these animals, so the 
pet-owners need to be aware of these 
potential risks to take added precautions to 
reduce the risks. The aim of this study was to 
report a case of infected domesticated dog in 
Mashhad City, Iran. 
 
Patient & Methods 
A 3-year-old pet dog was referred to 
veterinary clinic of Mashhad in February 2016 
by symptoms including, nausea or vomiting, 
dysentery, cachexia and rash in Mashhad City, 
Northeast of Iran.  
By asking from the dog owner, visiting to the 
vet, eating contaminated food or water and 
consuming any drug were all negative. 3 loose 
stool specimens were collected alternatively. 
For parasitological examination, formalin-
ether concentration technique was used. 
Briefly, approximately 1-2g of stool samples 
was mixed with 7ml of 10% formalin and 3ml 
ethyl acetate in 15ml falcon tube. Then the 
samples were centrifuged at 2500rpm around 
5min. Fecal smears were made from the 
sediment, stained with iodine and observed 
by light microscope (Nikon; Japan) under the 
magnification of 100X and 400X for intestinal 
parasites. In addition, one smear of fecal 
sample was prepared with 20µl of formalin-
ether sediment and stained by the modiﬁed 
Ziehl Neelsen method for the detection of 
Cryptosporidium spp. 
 
Findings 
The animal was infected with 10 disease-
causing parasites; Taenia spp., Fasciola spp., 
Dicrocoelium dendriticum,  Acanthocephal 
spp., Trichuris vulpis, Hook worm, Giardia spp., 
Blastocystis spp., Eimeria spp., and 
Cystoisospora spp. 
 
Discussion 
All detected parasites were pathogens and 
could infect humans. Parasitic diseases often 
are considered as major public health and 
economic problem worldwide, especially in 
developing countries [7]. In addition, the pet 
dogs are beneficial, but they could severely 
jeopardize personal and social health by their 
common zoonotic bacterial and parasitic 
diseases with humans and playing essential 
roles in transmission of infection.  
Some people kept dogs as a guard for their 
homes and some of them kept them as a pet. 
Due to the expansion of keeping domestic 
dogs in Iran and lack of implementation rules 
and regulations of keeping dogs in the 
country, the risk of disease transmission 
between dogs and humans is always there. On 
the other hand, the suffering of many 
domestic dogs from diseases is caused by the 
lack of enough health and keeping condition 
information of pet owners. In fact, lack of 
attention to early treatment and vaccination 
of dogs leads to emergence of serious diseases 
which would jeopardize the health of dogs, 
their owners and those around them [8]. 
One of the most common microorganisms 
between human and dog are parasitic 
diseases and on top of them is Echinococcus 
granulosus. Dog is the definitive host of this 
helminthes, and some animals and humans 
are the intermediate, which suffer hydatid 
cyst [9, 10]. Another human parasite, which 
causes visceral larva migrans lesion, is 
Toxocara canis. The main host in the life cycle 
of this parasite is dogs and humans are 
accidental hosts. In most cases, the infection 
will involve sensitive organs, especially the 
brain and eyes [11]. Cutaneous larva migrans in 
humans could be created through cutaneous 
contact with the infective stages of canine 
hookworms. In developing countries and 
85                                                                                                                                                                               Mohaghegh M.A. et al. 
Int Arch Health Sci                           Spring 2016, Vol. 3, Iss. 2 
deprived communities, the level of 
contamination by hookworm larvae is high 
[12]. 
Given the importance of the mentioned 
diseases, inform and promote education in 
this field is very important. Most experts and 
veterinary specialists believe that in terms of 
health, animals should not be kept in 
residential areas as all the animals can 
transmit a number of diseases to humans. 
 
Conclusion 
Education plays the most important role in 
reducing the incidence of parasitic infections 
in pets and their owners. Veterinarians 
believe that encouraging pet owners to 
perform veterinary examinations at the 
appropriate time could help reducing the 
spread of infection between humans and 
animals and the pets can become as integral 
members of household again. 
 
Acknowledgement: The authors thank the 
personnel of the Intestinal Parasites Research 
Laboratory, Isfahan University of Medical 
Science. 
Ethical Permission: Not needed. 
Conflict of Interests: None declared by 
authors. 
Funding Sources: This research was 
supported by, faculty of medicine, Isfahan 
University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. 
 
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A Dog with Multiple Infections of Enteric Parasitic Zoonosis in Mashhad City, North-East of Iran; a Case Report

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A Dog with Multiple Infections of Enteric Parasitic Zoonosis in Mashhad City, North-East of Iran; a Case Report

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