Intestinal Protozoa in Domestic Cats (Carnivora: Felidae, ) in Northwestern Iran: A Cross-Sectional Study with Prevalent of Microsporidian and Coccidian Parasites.

Background: In this study, some microsporidial and coccidian parasites were isolated from 103 domestic cats in the Meshkin Shahr area, northwestern Iran during the Jun 2014 to Jun 2015, and their genera were identified using parasitological methods with emphasis on their zoonotic importance.

Methods: One hundred and three fecal samples of domestic cats were collected and preserved in formalin (10%) and conserved in phosphate buffer saline solution, finally examined by microscopy after formalin-ether concentration and specific staining. Preservation in dichromate potassium (2.

Detection of Pseudocyst Forms of in Rodents from Iran.

Background: is one of the most common protozoa diagnosed in rodents. The trichomonads are generally described as presenting only trophozoite form while pseudocyst is another morphological form of trichomonads identified among gastrointestinal and genitourinary trichomonads. We identified and described different shapes of pseudocysts and trophozoite in stool samples were collected from rodents including , and .

Seroprevalence of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Children up to 12 Years old Among Nomadic Tribes from Rural Areas of Pars Abad, Northwestern Iran: an Observational Study in 2015.

Background: Since Pars Abad district had been known as a focus of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Ardabil Province but the prevalence of the disease in nomadic tribes has not been determined, thus, this study was conducted.

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on children up to 12yr old of nomadic tribes from Pars Abad County, Ardabil Province, Iran in 2015. For each individual, a questionnaire including age, sex, clinical manifestations, history of disease, and contact with reservoir hosts of VL were completed, separately.

Natural Intestinal Protozoa in Rodents (Rodentia: Gerbillinae, Murinae, Cricetinae) in Northwestern Iran.

Background: Majority of parasitic infections in rodents have zoonotic importance. This study aimed to determine the frequency and intensity of intestinal protozoa infections of rodents including and, C.

Methods: This survey was conducted in Meshkin Shahr district in northwestern Iran from Mar.

Age and sex distribution of among dogs in Meshkin-Shahr, northwest Iran and molecular analysis of the isolates based on COX1 gene.

is an important filarial nematode in dogs. In this study, age and sex distribution of this zoonotic nematode among dogs were investigated in northwest of Iran in Meshkin-Shahr city. Molecular characteristics of the isolates, based on cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COX1) gene were compared to the isolates from other areas of the world.

Helminth Infections of (Persian Jird), (House Mice) and (Grey Hamster): A Cross-Sectional Study in Meshkin-Shahr District, Northwest Iran.

Background: Rodents have important role as reservoirs of different parasites. The aim of this study was to determine helminth parasites of abundant rodents in Meshkin-Shahr, Ardabil Province northwest Iran.

Methods: From April 2014 to March 2015; 205 rodents including 118 , 63 and 24 were collected, using live traps.

Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis in Wild Canines (Fox, Jackal, and Wolf) in Northeastern Iran Using Parasitological, Serological, and Molecular Methods.

Background: Although many studies had been conducted on various aspects of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) in domestic dogs in the endemic areas of Iran, investigations on CVL in wild canines are rare.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2012 to 2013 in northeast of Iran where human VL is endemic. Wild canines were trapped around the areas where human VL cases had been previously identified.

Canine visceral leishmaniasis: seroprevalence survey of asymptomatic dogs in an endemic area of northwestern Iran.

Canine visceral leishmaniasis is a major public health problem that is endemic in tropical and sub tropical countries and is fatal in humans and dogs. In addition to symptomatic dogs, asymptomatic ones seem as source of Leishmania infantum infection. Thus surveillance and control programs of reservoir hosts are essential.

Molecular identification and polymorphism determination of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis agents isolated from human and animal hosts in Iran.

Amplification of internal transcript spacer 1 of ribosomal RNA (ITS1-RNA) gene followed by RFLP analysis and sequencing was used to identify the causing agents of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis (CL and VL) in humans and animal reservoir hosts from various geographical areas in Iran. We also used random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD-PCR) to obtain polymorphisms among isolates of Leishmania spp. Totally, 362 suspected human and animal cases including 173 CL, 49 VL, 60 rodents, and 80 domestic dogs were examined for Leishmania infection.

Cutaneous and post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum in endemic areas of visceral leishmaniasis, northwestern Iran 2002-2011: a case series.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is endemic in Northwest and southern Iran. Reports of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Northwest areas are rare, and its etiological agents are unknown. In the current study, we report six CL and two post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) cases caused by Leishmania infantum from endemic areas of VL in the Northwest.

First report on natural infection of the Phlebotomus tobbi by Leishmania infantum in northwestern Iran.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is an important health problem in Ardebil, where it borders Azerbaijan in the northwestern Iran. In spite of the presence of both cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis (CL and VL) in northwestern Iran, previous researches have consistently revealed the etiologic agent of VL in the region to be Leishmania infantum. This is the first report of natural infection of Phlebotomus tobbi with L.

Ecological study and risk mapping of visceral leishmaniasis in an endemic area of Iran based on a geographical information systems approach.

Between 1998 and 2001, a total of 1,062 human cases of visceral leishmaniasis were reported from the rural district of Meshkin-Shahr in the mountainous, north-western Iranian province of Ardabil. In the summer of 2008, a cross-sectional study of dogs was conducted in this endemic area by randomly selecting 384 animals from 21 villages and testing them serologically for leishmaniasis. Villages, in which more than 10% of investigated dogs showed anti- Leishmania titres ≥ 1/320, were considered to be high-risk environments.

Phlebotomus perfiliewi transcaucasicus is circulating both Leishmania donovani and L. infantum in northwest Iran.

Leishmania infantum is the causative agent of infantile visceral leishmaniasis (IVL) in the Mediterranean Basin and, based on isoenzyme typing of the parasite isolated from dogs; this parasite was considered to predominate in the all foci of IVL in Iran. However, based on PCR detection and sequencing of parasite Cysteine Protease B (CPB), only one out of seven sandfly infections in Phlebotomus perfiliewi transcaucasicus was found to be L. infantum in the current investigation.