This study was carried out on free-range backyard chickens, domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica) and turkeys from May 2012 to April 2013 to determine the prevalence and identify the species of ectoparasites in Kermanshah province, west of Iran. Of the total of 600 free-range backyard chickens (185 # and 415 $), 700 domestic pigeons (278 # and 422 $) and 150 turkeys (53 # and 97 $), 389 (64.83 %), 608 (86.85 %) and 54 (36 %) were infected with one or more parasites respectively. Eleven ectoparasites species including five of lice (50.16 % Menacanthus stramineus, 13.66 % Menopon gallinae, 4.83 % Cuclotogaster heterographus, 5.16 % Goniocotes gallinae, 2.33 % Goniodes gigas), three of mites (26.33 % Dermanyssus gallinae, 8.5 % Ornithonyssus bursa, 7 % Cnemidocoptes mutans), one of tick (78.66 % Argas persicus) and two of flea (12.33 % Echidnophaga gallinacea, 2 % Pulex irritans) were found in the backyard chickens. The domestic pigeons were infected with six species of parasites including: Columbicola columbae (61.7 %), M. gallinae (10.43 %), M. stramineus (9 %), D. gallinae (8.28 %), Argas reflexus (74.14 %) and Pseudolynchia canariensis (27.7 %). The ectoparasites species recorded in turkeys were M. gallinae (14 %), M. stramineus (8 %), D. gallinae (12.66 %), C. mutans (6 %), A. persicus (24.66 %) and E. gallinacean (6 %). This is the first survey to determine the prevalence and identify the species of ectoparasites among free-range backyard chicken, domestic pigeons and turkeys in Kermanshah province. The high prevalence rate of ectoparasites in free-range backyard chickens and domestic pigeons indicates that parasitic infection is a common problem in this area.

 Linguatula serrata is a zoonotic parasite causing visceral and nasopharyngeal linguatulosis in humans. Dog and other canines are the main definitive hosts while most herbivores, including ruminants serve as intermediate hosts for linguatulosis. Human rarely become infected as both final and intermediate hosts. This survey aimed to assess the L. serrata infection rate of dogs and domestic ruminants in North West of Iran. The upper respiratory tract of 97 dogs including 45 females and 52 males and the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) of 396 goats (203 females and 193 males), 406 buffaloes (166 females and 240 males), 421 cattle (209 females and 212 males) and 438 sheep (223 females and 215 males) were examined for L. serrata. Animals were categorized into four age groups, including under six months, six to 24 months, two to four years and more than four years. Results showed that 27.83% of dogs were infected with L .serrata. The infection rate for goats, buffaloes, cattle and sheep was 50.75%, 26.6%, 36.62% and 42.69%, respectively. The prevalence rate in all animals was significantly associated with age and sex (P ≤ 0.05). In ruminants, the highest infection rate was found in goats (P ≤ 0.05). The results from this study indicate a high rate of infection in dogs and domestic ruminants, suggesting a potential high risk of zoonotic infection in man in the investigated area.  

Hydatidosis is one of the important zoonotic diseases that cause considerable economic losses and public health problems worldwide. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence Echinococcus granulosus in people and slaughtered animals in Kermanshah province, west of Iran. Hospitals data and meat-inspection records in Kermanshah abattoir were used in this study. A total number of 32,130 slaughtered livestock (7000 cattle, 19,950 sheep and 5180 goats) was inspected in the 3-year period and overall 2043 (6.35 %) were infected. The highest and lowest prevalence was recorded in cattle and goats, respectively. In human, Cystic echinococcosis affected more females (54 %) than males (46 %) with a 1.17 male to female ratio. Rate of disease in urban and rural regions were 46 and 54 %, respectively. The youngest and the oldest patient operated were 7 and 87 years old, respectively, and the age group 21-40 years (41.2 %) were the most affected. A significantly higher number of hydatid cysts were recorded in the liver than in other sites. The ratio of hepatic hydatidosis to pulmonary hydatidosis was 2.46. The results showed that hydatidosis is of great importance in this area and serious attention is needed to prevent and control the disease.

The present study was carried out to survey the prevalence, intensity and pathological lesions of coccidia in 350 goats in western Iran from March 2012 to February 2013. The overall prevalence of coccidial infection was 83.43 % (292/ 350), with prevalence of 84 % (168/200) for adult goats and 82.66 % (124/150) for kids. Nine species of Eimeria were identified, namely, Eimeria arloingi, Eimeria parva, Eimeria ninakohlyakimovae, Eimeria pallida, Eimeria christenseni, Eimeria caprina, Eimeria hirci, Eimeria faurei, and Eimeria granulosa. The most common Eimeria species was E. arloingi (85.96 %), and E. granulosa was observed in the smallest proportion (3.08 %) of samples. Concurrent infection with two to five species was present in 78.45 % of positive samples. On gross examination, minimal changes were observed as thickening of the intestinal mucosa associated with a few scattered small whitish foci in the jejunum and ileum and advanced lesions as a pseudoadenomatous pattern in the mucosa and a cerebriform pattern on the serosal surface of the jejunum and ileum. The main histopathological lesion was proliferative enteritis associated with the presence of the developmental stages of parasite in the epithelial cells of the villi and crypts of the jejunum, ileum, and cecum. The results of the present investigation revealed that prevalence of coccidial infection is significantly high in western Iran and also have implications for the control of coccidial infections in the goat industry.

The present study was carried out to survey the prevalence and intensity of coccidia in sheep in western Iran. The prevalence of coccidial infection was monitored in 410 sheep in western Iran between March 2012 to February 2013. Oocysts in faecal samples were detected using a flotation technique, sporulated and identified to species based on morphological features of the sporulated oocysts. The overall prevalence of coccidial infection was 91.5% (375/410

Background: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of fascioliasis and to perform a climatological analysis of different regions of Iran based on the current situation of the parasite and its intermediate host using Geographical Information System (GIS). Methods: Meteorological data were obtained from Iran Meteorological Organization. Risk map of fascioliasis transmission was prepared based on this data and using forecasting indices. Further, the number of fascioliasis cases from 31 provinces reported to the Iran Veterinary Organization were collected and prevalence maps of livestock fascioliasis were drawn. Results: The main risk hotspots were found in Northern provinces like Golestan, Mazandaran and Gilan as well as some Southern provinces such as Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari and Fars, which have ideal conditions for completion of the parasite life cycle. Moreover, Gilan Province with 10.83% had the highest rate of fascioliasis infection in slaughtered animal. Conclusion: Iran is one of the most important foci of fascioliasis globally. Several provinces of Iran have appropriate conditions for evolution of parasite life cycle and presence of its intermediate host. These regions require special attention and serious determination in order to control fascioliasis in human and animals.

Melissa officinalis is a plant that has been widely used as an herbal medicine in many countries. Unfortunately, despite the prevalent medicinal uses of the plant, there are no reports on the possible toxic effects of M. officinalis. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of long-term administration of hydro-alcoholic extract of M. officinalis on some biochemical and hematological parameters and histopathology of organs. Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated to three equal groups. The animals in groups A and B received 600 and 1200 mg/kg M. officinalis extract, respectively, for 30 days. The rats in group C were given gavaged saline as control. The animals were euthanized at the end of experiment and the blood samples were collected for biochemical and hematology analysis. Additionally, appropriate tissue samples were collected from kidney, liver, spleen, heart and lung for light microscopic examination. M. officinalis caused a significant increase in the alanine aminotransferase level in the treated rats. Although the increase in creatine phosphokinase and lactate dehydrogenase levels were observed in group A and B, respectively, but there were no significant differences. A significant decrease was observed in the total protein and albumin concentrations in serum of treated rats as compared to the control group. The creatinine concentrations were significantly higher in the group B when compared to the other groups. There were no significant differences in cholesterol, triglyceride and urea concentrations between all groups of rats. The main histopathologic findings in the liver were included hepatocyte degeneration, congestion and dilation of sinusoids, proliferation of bile ducts and infiltration of mononuclear cells around the portal area. Histopathologic examination of the kidneys showed a tubular degeneration and necrosis, tubular and glomerular atrophy and congestion. These lesions were more prominent in the high dose treated rats. The findings suggest that long-term administration of M. officinalis extract even at low doses induces hepatic and renal lesions in rats.

Linguatulosis is one of the important zoonotic diseases that cause public health problems worldwide. This study was carried out from March 2014 to February 2015 to estimate the prevalence of nymphal stages of Linguatula serrata in ruminants of different sex and age slaughtered at the Kermanshah municipal abattoir, in western Iran. For this purpose, the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) were examined grossly and three MLNs for each animal were collected for parasitological and pathological studies. Of the total of 456 sheep (252 ♂ and 204 ♀), 390 goats (215 ♂ and 175 ♀) and 412 cattle (255 ♂ and 157 ♀), 90 (19.7%), 98 (25.1%) and 53 (12.8%) were infected with nymph stages of L. serrata, respectively. A significant difference in the prevalence of linguatulosis was observed among studied animals (P<0.05) and the highest and lowest prevalence were detected in goats and cattle, respectively. Prevalence of L. serrata nymphs in males and females was not significantly different (P>0.05). The prevalence increased with age (P<0.05). Grossly, the infected MLNs were enlarged, and their cross-sectional areas were coarse, firm, granulated, oedematous, and red in colour. Necrosis, oedema, haemorrhages, depletion of the lymphocytes and granulomatous reactions which are characterised by infiltration of mononuclear inflammatory cell around the parasite were the main histopathological lesions. These results indicated the high prevalence of L. serrata infection in livestock animals in Kermanshah. Furthermore, this study provides a preliminary baseline data for the future monitoring of this potentially important parasitic disease. The potential importance of these findings to human health is discussed.