Epidemiological aspects of canine dirofilariasis in the north of Iran

Dirofilaria immitis is an important parasite in dog and other carnivores. Our objective was study on incidence and periodicity of heartworm in north of Iran and using other methods for its diagnosis in addition to Parasitology exam. This survey spanned two years, between 2006 and 2008. Blood samples were collected from 431 stray dogs distributed along north of Iran, the coastal areas of the Caspian Sea. The Knott's modified test was used for diagnosis of D. immitis and other filariae. Meanwhile, the periodicity of microfilaria in peripheral blood circulation was calculated and the imaging diagnosis techniques of four dogs that had positive results were done. Diagnostic parasitology results indicated that 16.01% of stray dogs were microfilaremic. Two different microfilariae were diagnosed: D. immitis in 13.69%, Dipetalonema reconditum in 1.86% and in 0.46% both of them. There was no statistically significant between infection to fiariae with sex and age of dogs. Also study on the periodicity of the presence of microfilaria in peripheral circulation showed that the highest rate of those was at 1 am and the lowest rate at 12 pm. Radiographic study showed distinctive signs with varied degrees of severity included: Tortuous and enlargement of main and lobar pulmonary artery, pulmonary parenchymal lesions and Right side heart enlargement that confirmed in electrocardiography. Also in echocardiographic images observed short parallel-sided images with the appearance of equal signs that indicated the presence of the heartworm. These results showed that to obtain a reliable diagnosis of heartworm infection, imaging tests could support parasitological exams

[Clinical and pathological findings in a suspected cat to feline infectious peritonitis]

To study probability of occurrence of infectious peritonitis in a affected cat with severe ascite. Case study. A five months old male domestic short hair cat. In the first step, clinical examination, radiology and sonography interpretation, CBC, serum biochemical analysis and electrophoresis were done. After then abdominocyntesis was done and total protein and the ratio of albumin to globulin of the abdominal effusion was measured. Post mortem examination and histopahtological survey was done on tissue samples. In clinical examination mild pyrexia [40[degree sign] C], pale mucous membrane, anorexia and severe abdominal distention were revealed. The abdominal effusion was clear, straw colored, viscose and foamy in shaking. Radiology and sonography revealed severe distention of abdominal cavity was due to acsite. In necropsy, there was straw colored inflammatory exudates with diffuse granular fibrinous exudation covering serosal surfaces of intestine or floating in the abdominal effusion. Histopathological findings showed lymphocytic-plasmocytic infiltration and focal necrosis in-brain, heart, liver, kidneys, mesenteric lymph nodes and intestines. Failure of treatments of abdominal effusion [high levels of total protein decrease in albumin to globulin ratio and cytological status], characteristics of abdominal effusion, serum electrophoretic findings in accordance with clinical and histopathological findings made diagnosis