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Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a fatal disease with major veterinary and medical impacts. In the present study, we investigated the significance of potential demographic, clinical, and environmental risk factors for canine VL (CVL), southeastern Iran. This study was performed between 2014 and 2015 on 210 randomly selected stray dogs which were caught by live traps. A 5 ml blood sample was taken from cephalic vein for indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and nested PCR. The cut-off titer for IFAT was 1:320. For molecular test, two sets of general and specific primers were used to amplify variable mini circle region of kinetoplast DNA (kDNA). Data analyses were performed by x 2 and logistic regression tests at P

A cross-sectional survey was carried out on the sheep slaughtered at the Kerman abattoir from September 2010 to September 2011 to determine the prevalence of cystic hydatidosis. Postmortem examinations on hydatid cyst characterization were conducted. Out of the total of 1,643 animals examined (659 females and 984 males), 165 (10.04 %) were found harboring one or more hydatid cyst. The result obtained from postmortem examinations indicated that a total of 246 visceral organs were found harboring one or more hydatid cysts. The involvement of lung, liver, muscles, and kidney was found to be 49.59, 47.96, 1.21, and 1.21 %, respectively. From the total of 2,129 cysts counted, 875 (41.09 %), 720 (33.81 %), 258 (12.11 %) and 276 (12.96 %) were small, medium, large, and calcified cysts respectively, and 1,083 (50.86 %) and 770 (36.16 %) were fertile and sterile cysts respectively. Out of the 1,083 fertile cysts subjected for viability test, 899 (83.01 %) were viable. In conclusion, these findings of infections, meaning abundance and fertility rates of cystic echinococcosis in sheep slaughtered, prompt plans for further epidemiological studies and controlling programs.

A cross-sectional survey was carried out on goats slaughtered at the Kerman abattoir from September 2010 to September 2011 to determine the prevalence of cystic hyda- tidosis. Postmortem examination, hydatid cyst characteriza- tion were conducted. Out of the total of 2,002 animals examined (889 females and 1,113 males), 74 (3.69%) were found harboring one or more hydatid cyst. The result obtained from postmortem examination indicated that a total of 91 visceral organs were found harboring one or more hydatid cysts. The involvement of lung, liver, and muscles was found to be 43.95%, 42.85%, and 13.18% respectively. From the total of 575 cysts counted, 214 (37.21%), 186 (32.34%), 63 (10.95%), and 112 (19.47%) were small, me- dium, large, and calcified cysts, respectively, and 120 (20.86%) and 343 (59.65%) were fertile and sterile cysts, respectively. Out of the 120 fertile cysts subjected for viability test, 116 (96.66%) were viable.

Sarcocystosis caused by different Sarcocystis species and is a zoonotic protozoan infection with worldwide distribution in man and many animal species. In the present study, three techniques — direct inspection, impression smears and digestion method — were used for the diagnosis of Sarcocystis infection in 112 slaughtered sheep in a Kerman abattoir from November 2010 to May 2011. A total of 450 slaughtered sheep were selected randomly during three seasons, and their oesophagus and diaphragm were inspected using naked eye examination. In the second stage, 112 carcasses out of the 450 which had no apparent infection were selected randomly and their meat investigated using two techniques: impression smear with staining and pepsin digestion. The percentage of macroscopic cysts found in the oesophagus and diaphragm muscle was 6% and 2.88%, respectively, and microscopically, infection was found in 100% of the organs. There was no significant difference between different ages or between males and females. Although all of the sheep were found to be infected with Sarcocystis, majority of the cysts were demonstrated microscopically. This suggests that meat should be cooked sufficiently, since a macroscopic inspection may not provide true results.

The study was carried out from September 2010 to September 2011 at Kerman Municipal abattoir to assess the status of hydatidosis in cattle. Out of the total 1,000 cattle examined visually and manually (palpation and incision), 86 (8.6%) were found harboring hydatid cysts. A significantly higher infection was detected in older cattle (P

A cross-sectional study was conducted during four seasons from October 2009 to October 2010 to assess the status of cystic hydatidosis in the slaughtered camels at Kerman abattoir. Hydatid cyst count and characterization were conducted based on routine meat inspection. Out of the total 217 camels examined visually and manually by palpation and incision, 45 (20.73%) were found harboring hydatid cysts. A significantly higher infection was detected in older camels (P

Caspian miniature horses are extremely rare and have barely survived. The large roundworm of horses, Parascaris equorum, is an important cosmopolitan nematode parasite of foals. Two Caspian miniature horses (3 and 5 years old) from one herd with clinical sings of colic were referred to hospital of Veterinary Medicine Faculty of Kerman University, from July 2008 to March 2009. Fecal samples were taken from each horse and examined with the Cornell-McMaster dilution technique. Parascaris eggs were observed, counted, and the eggs per gram feces were calculated. At necropsy, the carcasses were cachexic, and there were massive burden of P. equorum in the small intestine.

Canine dirofilariosis is presumed to be enzootic in different parts of Iran but no study has been done regarding the prevalence of canine dirofilariosis in southeastern Iran. In this study, the presence of Dirofilaria immitis circulating antigen was detected using a commercial immunochromatogeraphy kit in the sera of 100 owned dogs, which were referred to Kerman Veterinary Hospital during a 6-month period. Modified knott test and follow-up radiography and electrocardiography were performed to support the heartworm diagnosis in seropositive dogs. At the same period, 98 stray dogs were subjected to post-mortem examination of the heart, pulmonary arteries, thoracic venae cavae, and lungs for detection of adult heartworm infection. The overall seroprevalence of heartworm was estimated at 5% but only two seropositive dogs showed microfilaremia. No stray dog was infected at necropsy and all seropositive dogs were owned. The prevalence of heartworm disease showed an initial increase with age fallowed by a decline in dogs older than 6 years. There were no significant differences among the dogs regarding sex and breed. Seven infected dogs (70%) were symptomatic in physical examination, and a broad spectrum of specific clinical signs of cardiovascular involvement was noticed. Distinctive radiographic signs with varied degrees of severity were seen in 50% of cases. Electrocardiography of seropositive cases revealed specific signs of right-sided cardiomegaly in 30% of cases. In conclusion, Kerman is a low endemic area for canine dirofilariosis but further epidemiological researches are needed to identify the disease distribution and human cases in southeastern Iran.

Hydatid cysts are one of the most prevalent zoonotic diseases and cause major economic and health problems around the world. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the biochemical profiles of hydatid cyst fluid obtained from the lungs and liver of cattle, sheep and goats naturally infected with Echinococcus granulosus. In each species, 11 biochemical profiles of hydatid cyst fluid (calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, glucose, urea, uric acid, cholesterol, triglyceride, creatinine and total protein) were determined and compared between the lung and the liver. No significant differences in biochemical profiles were observed in cattle, sheep or goats (P > 0.05) indicating that biochemical profiles of hydatid cyst fluids do not relate to cyst location.