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A 6-year-old male domestic short-haired cat (Felis catus) was presented with weakness, anorexia, fever, icterus, a painful abdomen, ruffled hair and a tick infestation, and it had no prior surgery. Laboratory analysis revealed left-shifted neutrophils, thrombocytopenia, low albumin content and high serum bilirubin concentration as well as activities of hepatic enzymes including alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. Azotemia and increased serum levels of creatinine and urea were also recorded. In Giemsa-stained blood smear, Hepatozoon gamonts were observed within neutrophils. Species-specific polymerase chain reaction assay was used to amplify an approximately 590 bp fragment of 18S rRNA gene and confirmed Hepatozoon felis infection. The cat was treated with imidocarb dipropionate and doxycycline and recovered completely. Six-month follow-up showed no recurrence. This study reveals the presence of H. felis in Iran and it should be considered in differential diagnosis in febrile and icteric cats. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first description of H. felis infection in a cat in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies indicate that 6% to 20% of feline patients have at least one dermatopathy. Hypothesis/Objective: This retrospective study aimed to provide comprehensive information about the types of skin diseases, diagnosis methods, treatments and follow‐up data in a hospital population of domestic cats in Iran. Animals/Materials and Methods: The present survey of clinical observations was conducted on the medical records of 1825 individual cats brought to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (Iran) over a 12‐year period (2009–2020). Results: Feline dermatoses accounted for 154 (8.43%) of the 1,825 cats examined during the study period. The most prevalent dermatological manifestations in the studied population of 154 were erythema, macules, papules and/or pustules (36; 23.37%), alopecia (18; 11.68%) and erosive/ulcerative lesions (17; 11.03%). Specific dermatological diagnoses made were the following (in descending order, of 154): dermatophytosis (34; 22.07%), subcutaneous abscesses (16; 10.38%), atopic skin syndrome/environmental allergies (20; 10.38%), external parasites (15; 9.74%), otitis (10; 6.49%), flea infestation (6; 3.89%), food allergy (4; 2.59%) and primary pyoderma (2; 1.29%). Most lesions were observed in the head/face of cats (41 of 154; 26.62%) and their ears (39; 25.32%). Following treatment, 86 of 154 cats (69.35%) had complete remissions, 17 cats faced recurrent dermatoses and the owners of 21 cats were not satisfied. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: The prevalence of dermatoses among this cohort of Iranian cats is similar to that in other parts of the world. However, a noticeable difference was detected in the most prevalent dermatoses. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the characteristics and outcomes of feline dermatological conditions in Iran. Background – Studies indicate that 6%–20% of feline patients have at least one dermatopathy. Objective – This retrospective study aimed to provide comprehensive information about the types of skin diseases, diagnosis methods, treatments and follow‐up data in a hospital population of domestic cats in Iran. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance – The prevalence of dermatoses among this cohort of Iranian cats is similar to that in other parts of the world. However, a noticeable difference was detected in the most prevalent dermatoses. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the characteristics and outcomes of feline dermatological conditions in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) as the recognition of pathogenic fungal structures induce the secretion of cytokines by immune systems. Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) 2 and 4 are the main PRRs that recognize fungal components. Aim: The present study aimed to assess the presence of dermatophyte species in symptomatic cats in a region of Iran and to investigate the expression of TLR‐2 and 4 in cat lesions with dermatophytosis. Methods: A total of 105 cats suspected of dermatophytosis with skin lesions were examined. Samples were analysed by direct microscopy using potassium hydroxide (20%) and culture on Mycobiotic agar. Dermatophytes strains were confirmed by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and then sequencing of the Internal Transcribed Spacer rDNA region. Also, for pathology and real‐time PCR studies, skin biopsies were taken by sterile single‐use biopsy punch from active ringworm lesions. Results: Dermatophytes were found in 41 felines. Based on the sequencing of all strains, Microsporum canis (80.48%, p < 0.05), Microsporum gypseum (17.07%) and Trichophyton mentagrophytes (2.43%) were the dermatophytes isolated from cultures. Cats under 1 year (78.04%) revealed a statistically significantly higher prevalence of infection (p < 0.05). Gene expression by real‐time PCR revealed the increased TLR‐2 and 4 mRNA levels in skin biopsies of cats with dermatophytosis. Conclusions: M. canis is the most prevalent dermatophyte species isolated from feline dermatophytosis lesions. Increased expression of TLR‐2 and TLR‐4 mRNAs in cat skin biopsies suggests that these receptors are involved in the immune response by recognizing dermatophytosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The painful bite of Pulex irritans; causes wound on the host body and is a vector for Bartonella bacteria species, which can cause trench fever, Rickettsia species, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Mediterranean spotted fever. We conducted a study to find out the hosts, abundance, as well as the molecular characteristics of this flea species in Meshkin-Shahr County, Ardabil Province, northwest of Iran. Methods: After collecting fleas from different reservoir hosts and transferring them to the laboratory, identification was done using different morphological characters as well as the internal transcribed spacer1 (ITS1) molecular marker. Results: This morphological study indicated that from the 1053 fleas, which were collected from 162 different animals, including cats and dogs, 74 specimens belonged to human flea, Pulex irritans. In addition, in molecular analysis showed a high sequence similarity (99.5%) with the P. irritans counterparts from Spain country and Zanjan of Iran available in GenBank. Conclusion: Pulex irritans species is an obligatory hematophagous ectoparasite of human and animals. Therefore, considering the relatively high frequency of this species on the body of cats and dogs, it is suggested to conduct more studies on its distribution and the possibility of being a vector of pathogens among these animals and human. The results of these studies will be used to compile and review the control programs of this vector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite changes in the epidemiology of dermatophyte infections, the incidence of fungal infections associated with Trichophyton species still remains high among dogs and cats. The objective of the present study was to isolate and characterize dermatophytes from dogs and cats in Iran., Method: From December 2022 to May 2023, skin and hair samples were collected from symptomatic and asymptomatic cats and dogs in Mazandaran, a northern province of Iran. The samples were then inoculated into Mycosel™ Agar. Dermatophyte isolates were identified by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer region. Antifungal susceptibility tests were conducted using the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI-M38-A3)., Result: Of the 250 samples collected (from 200 dogs and 50 cats), 20 (from 19 dogs and one cat) (8.0 %) were positive for dermatophyte growth. Based on sequence and phylogenetic analysis, all isolates belonged to T. mentagrophytes II*. Of these positive samples, 14 (70.0 %), 3 (15.0 %), 2 (10.0 %), and 1 (2.0 %) were isolated from asymptomatic stray dogs, symptomatic stray dogs, symptomatic domestic dogs, and symptomatic cats, respectively. Luliconazole and terbinafine displayed potent activity against all T. mentagrophytes isolates, with Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 0.016 µg/ml. Miconazole and griseofulvin demonstrated higher MIC (1 and 8 µg/ml)., Conclusion: The present study indicated that T. mentagrophytes II* asymptomatic carriage is frequent in stray dogs in Iran. The potential risk to public health needs to be evaluated However, T. mentagrophytes genotype VIII, considered as an endemic and emerging human pathogenic clone in several countries, was not detected during the present survey., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 SFMM. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The objective of this study was to investigate the presence and genetic attributes of Borrelia spp. in cats and dogs from the West Azerbaijan Province, located in the northwest of Iran. A total of 250 blood samples from cats and 300 blood samples from dogs were collected, and information regarding their age, sex, breed, ownership status, sampling time and region was recorded. The identification of positive samples was accomplished through nested-PCR and sequencing, with subsequent analysis of the gene sequences conducted using BioEdit software. The gene sequences for Borrelia spp. in this study showed 100% similarity to reference sequences in the GenBank® database. Phylogenetic trees were built using MEGA11. The outcomes indicated that among 250 blood samples from cats, 48 (19.2%) tested positive for Borrelia spp. gene, with a CI from 14.8 to 24.53% for cats. Similarly, out of 300 blood samples from dogs, 45 (15%) tested positive for the Borrelia spp. gene, with a CI from 11.4 to 19.48% for dogs., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia.)

Dermatophytosis is a common skin disease in cats and dogs caused by Microsporum and Trichophyton fungi. Species identification and knowledge of their antifungal susceptibility are therapeutically and epidemiologically important. This study assessed the prevalence of feline and canine dermatophytosis in Iran, identified the aetiological agents molecularly and tested their antifungal susceptibility. A total of 308 companion animals (134 dogs and 174 cats) with skin lesions were examined from March 2015 to March 2018. Hair and skin samples were examined by microscopy with 20% KOH and cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar with cycloheximide and chloramphenicol. Fungal isolates were confirmed by sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) r-DNA region. The antifungal susceptibility of dermatophytes was tested by broth microdilution assay using standard drugs. Dermatophytes were found in 130 (42.2%) samples, 62 of them feline and 68 canine. Based on sequencing of all strains, M. canis (78.5%, P<0.05), M. gypseum (10.7%), and T. mentagrophytes (10.7%) were the dermatophytes isolated. The non-dermatophyte species Nannizziopsis vriesii was also isolated from two feline dermatomycosis cases. Dogs and cats younger than one year (61.5%) showed a statistically significantly higher prevalence of infection (P<0.05). Caspofungin produced the lowest geometric mean MIC at 0.0018 μg/mL, followed by ketoconazole, terbinafine, itraconazole, miconazole, griseofulvin, clotrimazole and fluconazole, in a 0.038–1.53 μg/mL range. This is the first molecular study to identify the causes of pet dermatophytosis in north-western Iran. ITS-PCR was shown to be a useful and reliable method for the identification of closely related species of dermatophytes in clinical and epidemiological settings. The lowest MIC of caspofungin indicated that this drug was the most potent in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microsporidia is a group of spore-forming microorganisms with zoonotic potential. This study aimed to compare intestinal microsporidia infections in cat owners and non-pet owners. In total, 210 fecal samples were collected from indoor cats, cat owners, and non-pet owners. DNA extraction was performed and the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene was amplified. To characterize the genotypes, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) fragment was amplified and sequenced. The phylogenetic trees were drawn to evaluate the relationship among Enterocytozoon bieneusi isolates. Two (2.9%) and one (1.4%) fecal samples from cat owners and one (1.4%) and two (2.9%) fecal samples from non-pet owners were positive for E. bieneusi and Encephalitozoon intestinalis, respectively. E. bieneusi was detected in two cat samples (2.9%). Same infection was not seen between infected cats and their owners. There was no significant difference between the prevalence rate of microsporidia among the cat owners and non-pet owners. Indeed, the genotypes L and type IV were seen in cats, while the genotype D was only detected in human. In this study, E. bieneusi and E. intestinalis were more prevalent among the cat owners and non-pet owners, respectively. Indeed, the higher prevalence of E. bieneusi in cats and their owners might be resulted from the worldwide distribution of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and genetic characteristics of Bartonella quintana in pet cats from Urmia City, located in the northwest of Iran. Blood samples were collected from 200 cats, and their age, gender, and breed were noted. Nested-PCR and sequencing were used to identify B. quintana in positive samples, and the ftsZ gene sequences were analyzed using BioEdit software. The gene sequence obtained in this study exhibited 100.00 % similarity to reference sequences in the GenBank® database, and a phylogenetic tree was constructed using MEGA11. The results revealed that 15 % of the cats (30 out of 200 blood samples) tested positive for the B. quintana gene, with a 95 % confidence interval of 10.71 % to 20.61 %. • The first genomic detection and identification of Bartonella quintana in pet cats from Urmia city, Iran. • B. quintana cause trench fever as an important zoonotic disease. • the nested-PCR technique is successful to detect of B. quintana nucleic acid (DNA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tritrichomonas foetus is recently found to be one of the causes of chronic diarrhea in domestic cats but there is no report of feline intestinal trichomoniasis in Iran. Case description: A 9 months female domestic short-haired cat was referred to our hospital with a history of chronic diarrhea over the past two months, and with an unsuccessful previous antibiotic therapy in another clinic. Findings/treatment and outcome: Clinical examination revealed 39.8°C rectal temperature. Complete blood count (CBC) showed moderate inflammatory leukogram. By the wet-mount faecal assessment, moving organisms were observed. Rectal scarping dry-mount cytology revealed many inflammatory cells along with huge numbers of trophozoites with typical morphologic characteristics including central axostyle, undulating membrane, flagella, and one laterally located nucleus. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed and confirmed the diagnosis of T. foetus. After treatment with metronidazole and probiotics, the cat was completely recovered. Conclusion: This study represents the first case of intestinal trichomoniasis in a cat with chronic diarrhea in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Clinical remission of diabetes mellitus which is one of the most commonly encountered endocrine diseases in cats is not very frequent. A 3-year-old male castrated Russian Blue cat with a history of excessive water intake and urination as well as weight loss, lethargy, and unkempt hair coat was referred to us. Type 2 diabetes mellitus was diagnosed based on clinical signs of laboratory findings in this cat. The cat was completely treated in six weeks by orally administered glibenclamide. Based on previously reported studies many factors are involved in the remission of diabetes. Most of these are due to the possibility of reversal of glucotoxicity with insulin injections or orally administered sulfonylurea drugs associated with a reduction of carbohydrates in the diet. The animal subject was monitored for 1 year after remission. The cat was normal in blood glucose after each follow-up. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this clinical description is the first report of remission in a cat with type 2 diabetes mellitus by glibenclamide in the veterinary literature reported from Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Toxocariasis is the clinical terms applied to infection of human with Ascarid nematodes in the order Ascaridida, named Toxocara canis and T. cati. Because in recent years in Iran many people desire to keep pets (cats and dogs), and lacking of seroepidemiological study of toxocariasis in Mashhad, we decided to determine the seroprevalence of toxocariasis among people who own cats and dogs in comparison with control group. Methods: A serological study for detection antibodies to Toxocara in two groups (93 cat and dog owners and 93 healthy people as control group) was conducted from Feb 2013 to Dec 2013. An ELISA method was employed using determination of IgG antibodies against Toxocara. The serum samples were evaluated for anti- Toxocara antibody, using ELISA technique at Parasitology and Immunology Lab of Imam Reza Hospital of Mashhad. Using a questionnaire, epidemiological factors associated with infection were examined. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test. Results: The seroprevalence of Toxocara antibodies in the pet owners and control group was respectively 20.43% and 1.07%. 47.3% of pet owners were female. Conclusion: Presented data showed the significant difference between seroprevalence of toxocariasis among pet owners and control group. Education of society and in particular pet owners consisting of preventing contamination of the environment with Toxocara eggs is advised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dirofilaria immitis is a common nematode of the cardiovascular system, which infects carnivores all over the world. The infection is prevalent in dogs, but in cats and human is rare. Dirofilariosis is transmitted by mosquitoes. Cats are accidental hosts and are naturally resistant to the infection, compared to the dogs. Mild infection can cause severe illness in cats and may lead to death, so it is clinically important to diagnose the disease. Methods: In the present study, 103 stray cats were collected from Meshkin Shahr district, Aradabil Province, northwestern Iran that is an endemic area for canine dirofilariosis. Blood samples were prepared from the saphenous vein of each cat and were examined for the presence of microfilariae by the modified Knott test. Results: A 2 yr old male cat (0.97%) was microfilaremic. The cat was subjected to necropsy and 4 adult D. immitis (2 male and 2 female worms) were found in the right ventricle of the heart. PCR was then carried out and D. immitis was confirmed. Conclusion: Cats and other carnivores in Meshkin Shahr district are at risk of infection due to the high activity of vectors in this climate and it is important to follow up the infection in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bartonella species are emerging vector-borne zoonotic pathogens which infect a wide range of domestic and wild animals as well as humans. Cats are the primary reservoir hosts for several zoonotic Bartonella spp., the most common being B. henselae the causative agent of cat scratch disease. Despite the important role of cats in the epidemiology of bartonellosis, there is limited information about the prevalence and species infecting cats in Iran. The aim of present study was molecular detection and identification of Bartonella species in cats from two western provinces Hamedan and Kermanshah. From December 2018 to February 2021, 87 cats (n = 26 from Hamedan, n = 61 from Kermanshah) were examined clinically, their bodies were searched for collection of ectoparasites, and cephalic or saphenous blood specimens were collected. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood specimens and conventional PCRs targeting the rpoB , and ITS regions of Bartonella spp. were performed. Positive samples were sequenced and analysed phylogenetically. Bartonella DNA was detected in 11/87 cats (12.64 %). Sequencing results revealed the presence of B. henselae in cats from Hamedan, and B. clarridgeiae and B. henselae in cats from Kermanshah. A statistical association between cat origin and the prevalence of Bartonella spp. was observed in the studied population. This study confirms for the first time the circulation of Bartonella spp. in cats in two western Iranian provinces. Prevention strategies e.g. ectoparasites control, and regular examination of pet and urban cats are suggested for minimising Bartonella infection in cats and subsequently in humans. • First report of the presence of Bartonella spp. in cats in western Iran. • The prevalence of Bartonella spp. was significantly higher in the shelter cats. • Cat housing is a risk factor in the dispersion of Bartonella spp. in cats. • Arthropod and cat fighting have role in the dispersion of Bartonella spp. in cats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Catalase (CAT) activity is likely to be affected by functional polymorphism of C-262T (rs1001179) in the CAT gene (OMIM: 115500). It is hypothesized that individuals with the lower expressing forms of the CAT polymorphism may be more susceptible to breast cancer. In order to find the allelic frequency of the C-262T polymorphism among Iranian populations, the present study was carried out. Methods: The total study subjects consisted of 1057, 200, and 200 individuals from Shiraz (Fars province; belong to Persians), Abarku (Yazd province; belong to Persians), and Yasuj (Kohgiluyeh va Boyer-Ahmad province; belong to Lurs), respectively. Genotypic analysis for the CAT C-262T polymorphism was determined by PCR. Results: The frequency of the T allele was 0.2044±0.0138, 0.1825±0.0193, and 0.1800±0.0192 in Shiraz, Abarku, and Yasuj, respectively. The genotypic frequencies of the control subjects did not show significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Statistical analysis indicated that there was no significant difference between these populations for the genotypic distributions of the CAT C-262T polymorphism (χ2=2.73, df=4, P=0.603). Conclusion: The frequency of the T allele among Iranian populations was very similar to that reported for Caucasians and was higher than Asians and African-American populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is caused by Leishmania infantum, of which dogs are the main reservoir. VL is endemic in the Middle East, also in some parts of Iran. Following reports of new cases of VL in children in Maragheh County, the non-endemic area of the disease, we encouraged to conduct a preliminary study on domestic dogs and cats to identify their potential role as reservoirs for the disease., Materials and Methods: This study was conducted during a period of 3 years from 2018 to 2021. Two hundred ownership dogs and 25 cats from Maragheh County, north-west of Iran, were randomly screened. Blood samples were collected. A direct agglutination test (DAT) was used for the detection of anti-L. infantum antibodies. Furthermore, buffy coat samples from the L. infantum seropositive animals were examined to detect parasite presence using polymerase chain reaction., Results: Out of the total of 200 ownership dogs evaluated, 170 (85%) were male and 30 (15%) were female with a mean age of 4.3 years. Anti-L. infantum antibodies (IgG cut-off ≥ 1:320) were observed in 3.5% of dogs (7/200) by the DAT test. All seropositive dogs were identified in the first year of examination. Regarding molecular approaches in seropositive dogs, two samples were positive for a 565 bp kDNA minicircle gene specific for L. infantum. During the study period, no seropositive case was detected in the cats examined., Conclusions: This study shows that the domestic cycle of L. infantum has been established in the studied region. It is necessary to increase the awareness and monitoring of the disease with the study of wild reservoirs periodically., (© 2022 The Authors. Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Toxocara is a common nematode of cats in different parts of Iran. Despite the close association of cats with human, no attempt has been done so far for molecular identification of this nematode in the country. Therefore, current study was performed on identification of some isolates of Toxocara from stray cats in Shiraz, Fars Province, Southern Iran, based on morphological and molecular approaches, and also determination of intensity of infection. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 30 stray cats trapped from different geographical areas of Shiraz in 2011. Adult male and female worms were recovered from digestive tract after dissection of cats. Morphological features using existing keys and PCR-sequencing of ITS-rDNA region and pcox1 mitochondrial l gene were applied for the delineating the species of the parasites. Results: Eight out of 30 cats (26.7%) were found infected with Toxocara nematodes. All the isolates were confirmed as Toxocara cati based on morphological features and the sequence of ribosomal and mitochondrial targets. Intensity of infection ranged from one to a maximum of 39 worms per cat, with a mean of 10.25±12.36, and higher abundance of female nematodes. Conclusion: The most prevalent ascaridoid nematode of stray cats in the study area was T. cati and female nematodes were more abundant than that of males. This issue has important role in spreading of eggs in the environment and impact on human toxocariasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The occurrence of Giardia duodenalis in cats is of potential significance from both clinical and public health perspectives. The object of this study was antigenic detection of G. duodenalis in household cats of Ahvaz district, South-West of Iran. Methods: The prevalence of G. duodenalis was determined in fecal samples by two techniques: centrifugation-flotation and a commercial Giardia Antigen Test Kit (immunochromatography assay) in 150 household cats of different ages among referred cases to Veterinary Hospital of Ahvaz University from January 2008 to February 2010. Results: Five out of 150 fecal samples (3.33%) were positive for antigen of G. duodenalis by immunochromatography assay. The prevalence was significantly higher in young cats less than 6 months (15.79%) compared with adult cats 6 months - 3 years (1.37%) (P=0.027) and above 3 years (1.72%) (P=0.044). The infection had more prevalence in diarrheic cats (17.39%) compared with non-diarrheic cats (0.79%) and the difference was significant (P=0.02) as well. The prevalence was higher in male cats (3.41%) than females (3.23%) and in the season of autumn (6.06%), but the difference was not significant between the prevalence of infection relative to host gender and season (P>0.05). Microscopy examination on fecal samples showed that 2% of the studied cats were positive. Conclusion: The parasite antigen was present as a zoonotic infection in Ahvaz district, South-west of Iran. More sensitive techniques, such as immunochromatography assay, might yield more reliable results, in the detection of low levels of Giardia in fecal samples of cats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 1.5-year-old female, domestic shorthair cat with a 2-week history of proximal humerus fracture and open lesion infection was presented to Tehran University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. On physical examination the cat was quiet but alert. No other physical abnormalities were detected. The complete blood count, cytochemical staining, serum biochemistry tests as well as fecal flotation test, bone marrow cytology, radiography, and sonography were performed. Bone marrow aspiration showed a mildly increased myeloid-to-erythroid ratio (3.49:1). This cat had a healthy appetite without vomiting, diarrhea, or weight loss throughout the following-up course. All previous cases have been reported as having anorexia as a clinical finding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cats and other felines act as definitive hosts for many intestinal parasites, some of which are responsible for several zoonotic diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the type and prevalence of protozoa and gastrointestinal helminthes among stray cats. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted. Digestive tracts of 100 stray cats in Zanjan Province, north-west of Iran were autopsied in order to recognize gastrointestinal helminthes and intestinal protozoan parasites. These cats were collected by baited cage trapped from October 2007 to September 2008. Gender and species of helminthes and protozoa were recognized using authentic diagnostic criteria. Statistical evaluation was performed by SPSS version 14. Results: Forty-two percent of cats were infected with intestinal protozoan parasites, 33% were infected with cestodes and 39% infected with gastrointestinal nematodes. Four species protozoan parasites and eight gastrointestinal helminthes were recovered from the animals, including Taenia taeniaeformis, Dipylidium spp., Joyeuxiella pasqaulei, Toxocara cati, Physaloptera praeputialis, Rectalaria spp., Onicolla, Cystoisospora spp., Toxoplasma gondii, and Sarcocystis spp . Conclusions: The high infection rate of Toxoplasma and some gastrointestinal helminthes in stray cats is considered to be critical from the viewpoint of public health importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dermatophytes are the most common causes of cutaneous fungal diseases. Dermatophytosis is a common skin disorder in dogs and cats. Species identification of these fungi is important from a therapeutic and epidemiological aspect. Conventional methods used to identify dermatophyte species are often lengthy and may be inefficient in many circumstances. Recently broad varieties of several molecular DNA-based techniques were successfully utilised for species detection of dermatophytes., Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the molecular detection of dermatophyte isolates from canine and feline dermatophytosis in Mashhad, Iran., Methods: Thirty dermatophytes isolated from dogs and cats with skin lesions and one standard strain of Microsporum canis were cultured onto Mycosel agar, and then internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal DNA was amplified using the universal fungal primers ITS1 and ITS4. PCR products were subjected to sequencing and sequence analysis., Results: Based on the sequencing of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region on all samples, all the studied strains were M. canis and their sexual stage (teleomorph) was Arthroderma otae., Conclusions: Microsporum canis was the only species found among dogs and cats, and its high prevalence can increase the rate of transmission to humans. In practice, ITS-PCR, with sequence analysis, is a useful and reliable method to identify and differentiate various pathogenic species, and it can be used in clinical and epidemiological fields, even for the rapid diagnosis of dermatophyte species that are closely interrelated., (© 2021 The Authors. Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (Raillet), the cat lungworm, is a parasitic round worm which lives in the terminal bronchioles and the alveolar ducts inside the lungs of cats as final hosts. Snails or slugs can be intermediate hosts while rodents, frogs, toads, lizards, birds, and snakes can play the role of transporter from the intermediate host into the final host. The ingested third-stage larvae migrate towards the lungs through the blood vessels. In this research, first, the observation of A. abstrusus infection in a stray cat in Iran is described. Later, the larval detection of this worm in infected cat's blood throughout the world will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytauxzoonosis is a tick-borne disease caused by Cytauxzoon felis, a hematozoan piroplasm of wild and domestic felids which, in most cases, causes severe clinical disease with a high rate of mortality; however, some cats can survive cytauxzoonosis and asymptomatic cats are also recorded. In this report, the observation of C. felis in the blood smear and serum of a stray cat in Iran during analysis is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Microsporidia in dogs and cats is primarily caused by the obligate, intracellular parasite Encephalitozoon cuniculi, which is a member of the phylum Microsporidia. The aim of the current study is the detection of this parasite in stool samples of small animals of Iran, by polymerase chain reaction. Microsporidia spp. was found in 31% (31/100) of dogs (E. cuniculi (18/100), Encephalitozoon bieneusi (8/100) and Encephalitozoon intestinalis (5/100)), and 7.5% (3/40) of the specimens obtained from cats were infected with E. bieneusi. Sequencing of PCR products confirmed these results. In conclusion, Microsporidia infection seems to be fairly common in pet animals of Iran, especially in dogs. This finding could indicate the importance of pet animals as zoonotic reservoirs of microsporidial human infections. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aerobic bacteria of the oral cavity were investigated using 50 apparently healthy dogs and cats (25 and 25) randomly selected from animals brought to Veterinary clinics of Esfahan in central Iran. Samples were collected aseptically from the oral cavity and gingival sulcus for bacteriological examination. Standard microbiological techniques were used for isolation and identification of bacterial genera. From a total of 100 samples collected for bacteriological examinations, 159 (83 from dogs, 76 from cats) bacterial isolates representative of different genera were identified. More prevalent identified bacteria from cats and dogs were staphylococci (30.2, 60.3%), streptococci (31.6, 21.7%) and Bacillus spp (7.9, 6%) respectively. Gram-positive bacteria were dominant in this environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was undertaken to determine the possible interaction between aggressive behavior and Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) disease progression based on semi‑quantitative viral load levels and health status in naturally FIV‑infected cats. FIV status was determined in ninety‑six owned and stray cats, using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Aggressive tendencies were assessed based on observation and the cats' demeanor as determined by the owners and shelter caretakers. Results showed that forty‑seven cats (49%) were PCR‑positive for FIV infection and all aggressive cats were FIV‑positive (100%). FIV infection was significantly linked to extreme aggressive tendencies and the extremely aggressive FIV‑infected cats were more likely to have an unhealthy status compared to the non‑aggressive individuals (p = 0.022). There was also a significant difference (p = 0.012) in the mean Cycle threshold (Ct) values between the aggressive and non‑aggressive FIV‑infected cats and also between the unhealthy FIV‑infected cats with extreme aggressive tendencies and the healthy FIV‑infected individuals without aggression (p = 0.001). Accordingly, results indicated that parameters associated with FIV disease progression are directly linked to aggression. The possible impact of FIV on the behavioral pattern of naturally infected cats should not be underestimated. However, there is an urgent need to conduct more experiments to support the assumptions about the possible exacerbation of aggression tendencies in naturally FIV‑infected cats following the direct effect of FIV through the course of the infection.

Objectives: The study was designed to determine the presence of Helicobacter genus and three species of H. pylori, H. bilis, and H. canis, in the duodenum, ileum, colon, and liver of stray cats. Moreover, the histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses have been performed., Methods: Samples were taken from the duodenum, ileum, colon, and liver of 30 cats for molecular and histopathological evaluations. Polymerase chain reaction was carried out for the detection of the Helicobacter genus in the mentioned samples. Then, species-specific primers were used in Helicobacter-positive samples., Results: Helicobacter genus prevalence rates in the duodenum, ileum, colon, and liver samples were 50%, 60%, 50%, and 43.3%, respectively. Helicobacter pylori, H. canis, and H. bilis were isolated from at least one tissue of 18 (60%), 13 (43.3%), and 8 (26.7%) of the cats, respectively. Immunohistochemical findings confirmed the presence of bacteria in the intestinal crypt or the mucosal layer of duodenum, ileum, colon, and hepatic sinusoids., Conclusion: In the present study, the concurrent infection of duodenum and liver was noticeable. Furthermore, the high prevalence of H. pylori in cats, as a well-known human pathogen, should be considered. High incidence of Helicobacter in gut and liver of Ahvaz stray cats is noticeable. According to the zoonotic importance of Helicobacter, more studies in the field of treatment and prevention are highly recommended.

Campylobacter is considered the most common bacterial cause of human gastroenteritis in the world with C. jejuni being regarded as the primary cause of bacterial gastroenteritis. A broad range of other Campylobacter species, including C. coli have also been implicated in human gastroenteritis. This study sought to isolate, characterize and assess the antibiogram of Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli from faecal samples obtained from cats and dogs in Isfahan and Shahrekord cities in Iran. Faecal samples were collected from 100 pets comprising of 50 dogs and 50 cats from March 2015 to March 2016; incorporating the four seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter). Campylobacter spp. was isolated by culture, characterized by biochemical tests and confirmed by PCR-based assays. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed by the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method, using Mueller Hinton agar. A total of 19 Campylobacter isolates among them two C. jejuni and one C. coli were recovered from dogs and cats' faecal samples. The prevalence rates of Campylobacter spp. were 16.0% (8 out of 50) in dogs and 22.0% (11 out of 50) in cats. The highest (4 out of 16, 25%) Campylobacter spp. prevalence among dogs was reported in autumn and the lowest (1 out of 11, 9.1%) in spring, while among the cats, the highest (4 out of 12, 33.3%) Campylobacter spp. prevalence was reported in summer and lowest (1 out of 11, 9.09%) in spring. Campylobacter spp. isolated from faecal samples obtained from cats and dogs exhibited the most frequent antimicrobial resistance against tetracycline at 81.8% and 87.5%, respectively, compared to all other antimicrobial agents. These results show a low prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in faecal samples obtained from pet dogs and cats in Shahrekord and Isfahan cities in Iran. Given the relatively low prevalence of the C. jejuni and C. coli in pet dogs and cats in Isfahan and Shahrekord cities, it can be assumed that their importance as reservoirs for infection in humans is likely to be limited to the studied cities, but should not be neglected., (© 2018 The Authors. Veterinary Medicine and Science Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Introduction: Little is known about the relationship between health status and pulmonary artery diameter in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate correlation between pulmonary artery-aorta ratio (P-A ratio) and health status of the individuals, using COPD assessment test (CAT)., Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 112 COPD patients were recruited. The severity of COPD was determined by global initiative for obstructive lung disease (GOLD). After digital chest CT scan, the P-A ratio was measured at the level of bifurcation and compared with CAT score, GOLD stage, exacerbation rate and Modified Medical Research Council (MMRC) score., Results: The average P-A ratio was 0.89 ± 0.16 and 62.5% of patients had ratio less than one. The P-A ratio correlates significantly with different GOLD stages, CAT score and MMRC score (P < .001, P < .001, P < .001, respectively). Compared patients with low P-A ratio (<1), those with high P-A ratio (≥ 1) showed higher CAT score [11.94 ± 5.94 vs 25.17 ± 5.84] (P < .001). The P-A ratio was significantly higher in frequent (≥2) comparing low (<2) exacerbations [1.07 ± 0.07 vs 0.77 ± 0.06] (P < .001)., Conclusion: Significant correlations were found between P-A ratio and GOLD, exacerbation rate and health status, using CAT of patients with COPD. These findings also may suggest the potential role of P-A ratio, in the management of COPD patients., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)