A few studies have been done on the seroepidemiology of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in dairy and beef cattle farms in Iran, which suggested the presence of N. caninum in these areas, but there is no published information directed on the presence or epidemiology of this organism in the dogs in Iran. To investigate anti-N. caninum antibodies in household dogs and dogs living in cattle farms, 100 blood samples were collected: 50 from dogs living in dairy and beef cattle farms and 50 from household dogs. Serum samples were screened for detection of anti-N. caninum IgG antibodies using indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT; > or = 50). Antibodies were seen in 10 (20%) of 50 household dogs and in 23 (46%) of 50 farm dogs. There were significant statistical differences in seropositivity between these two groups (P = 0.005). The IFAT antibody titers were as follows: 1:50 in seven dogs, 1:100 in eight dogs, 1:200 in six dogs, 1:400 in seven dogs, 1:800 in three dogs, 1:1,600 in one dog, and 1:12,800 in one dog. There were no significant differences in seropositivity between males and females. The positive results were increasing with age, and positive results were significantly different in the age group of older than 2 years compared to the dogs of age group under 1 year (P = 0.000) and 1-2 years (P = 0.007). The results confirm the exposure of household and farm dogs to N. caninum in Tehran and the higher rate of exposure for the dogs of dairy and cattle farms around Tehran.

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BackgroundCats are definitive hosts of Toxoplasma gondii and play an essential role in the epidemiology of this parasite. The study aims at clarifying whether cats are able to develop specific antibodies against different clonal types of T. gondii and to determine by serotyping the T. gondii clonal types prevailing in cats as intermediate hosts in Germany.MethodologyTo establish a peptide-microarray serotyping test, we identified 24 suitable peptides using serological T. gondii positive (n=21) and negative cat sera (n=52). To determine the clonal type-specific antibody response of cats in Germany, 86 field sera from T. gondii seropositive naturally infected cats were tested. In addition, we analyzed the antibody response in cats experimentally infected with non-canonical T. gondii types (n=7).FindingsPositive cat reference sera reacted predominantly with peptides harbouring amino acid sequences specific for the clonal T. gondii type the cats were infected with. When the array was applied to field sera from Germany, 98.8% (85/86) of naturally-infected cats recognized similar peptide patterns as T. gondii type II reference sera and showed the strongest reaction intensities with clonal type II-specific peptides. In addition, naturally infected cats recognized type II-specific peptides significantly more frequently than peptides of other type-specificities. Cats infected with non-canonical types showed the strongest reactivity with peptides presenting amino-acid sequences specific for both, type I and type III.ConclusionsCats are able to mount a clonal type-specific antibody response against T. gondii. Serotyping revealed for most seropositive field sera patterns resembling those observed after clonal type II-T. gondii infection. This finding is in accord with our previous results on the occurrence of T. gondii clonal types in oocysts shed by cats in Germany.

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This survey was conducted to identify and estimate the frequencies of ectoparasites of dogs in Tehran, Iran. A total of 143 dogs attended at the Small Animal Hospital of the Veterinary School, the University of Tehran, were examined for the presence of ectoparasites and dermatological lesions. Ectoparasite specimens and blood samples were sent to parasitology and hematology laboratories, respectively. Ticks were the most frequent ectoparasite (36.4%, 52/143), followed by fleas (29.4%, 42/143), mites (25.9%, 37/143), and lice (8.4%, 12/143). Mixed infestations with two or more ectoparasites were detected in eight dogs. Rhipicephalus bursa was the most frequent ectoparasite in spring and summer. Ectoparasitic infestations were recorded mainly in large breeds and juvenile animals. Eosinophilia was more observed in dogs infested with Sarcoptes scabiei. The most common clinical sign, skin pruritus, was associated with mite and lice infestations. These results indicate that the tick R. bursa was the most prominent species of ectoparasite found in the evaluated group, followed by Ctenocephalides canis and S. scabiei var canis.Keywords: Ectoparasites, Rhipicephalus bursa, dogs, Ctenocephalides canis, Sarcoptes scabiei, Iran. ResumoEsta pesquisa foi realizada para identificar e estimar a frequência de ectoparasitas de cães em Teerã, Irã. Um total de 143 cães, atendidos no Hospital de Pequenos Animais da Faculdade de Veterinária da Universidade de Teerã, foi examinado para a pesquisa de ectoparasitas e lesões cutâneas. Espécimes de ectoparasitos e amostras de sangue coletadas foram enviadas para exame em laboratório de parasitologia e hematologia, respectivamente. Os carrapatos foram os ectoparasitos mais frequentemente encontrados (36,4%, 52/143), seguidos por pulgas (29,4%, 42/143), sarnas (25,9%, 37/143) e piolhos (8,4%, 12/143). Infestações mistas com dois ou mais ectoparasitos foram observadas em oito cães. Rhipicephalus bursa foi o ectoparasito mais frequente na primavera e verão. Infestações de ectoparasitos foram registradas principalmente em raças maiores e animais jovens. Eosinofilia foi mais observado em cães infestados com Sarcoptes scabiei. O sinal clínico mais comum, prurido na pele, esteve associado às infestações por ácaros e piolhos. Estes resultados indicam o carrapato R. bursa como ectoparasito mais comum no grupo avaliado, seguido por Ctenocephalides canis e S. scabiei var canis.

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