Prevalence and molecular characterization of Dirofilaria immitis in road killed canids of northern Iran
Abstract Background Dirofilaria immitis is a mosquito-borne filarial nematode, which infects primarily wild and domestic canids, causing cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and characterize molecular features of D. immitis in road killed canid...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Veterinary Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-022-03270-z |
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| author | Meysam Sharifdini Mahan Karimi Keyhan Ashrafi Mostafa Soleimani Hamed Mirjalali |
| author_facet | Meysam Sharifdini Mahan Karimi Keyhan Ashrafi Mostafa Soleimani Hamed Mirjalali |
| author_sort | Meysam Sharifdini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Dirofilaria immitis is a mosquito-borne filarial nematode, which infects primarily wild and domestic canids, causing cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and characterize molecular features of D. immitis in road killed canids, northern Iran. Methods The carcasses of 53 road killed canids including 18 dogs (Canis familiaris), and 35 golden jackals (C. aureus) were necropsied in both Mazanderan and Guilan provinces, northern Iran. The molecular analyses were conducted based on the cytochrome oxidase (Cox) 1 and 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Results The heartworm infection was found in 55.6% of dogs and 22.9% of jackals. Our study revealed significantly higher prevalence of D. immitis in dogs compared to jackals (P = 0.031). The prevalence of D. immitis was no statistically significant between males and females in both dogs and jackal (P > 0.05). Comparison of the Cox1 gene sequences with available data in the GenBank illustrated 100% similarity with D. immitis isolates from different hosts in European, Asian, and South American continents. Moreover, the 18S rRNA gene sequences showed 100% identity with dog isolates from Japan and French Guiana. Conclusions This study confirms the high prevalence of D. immitis in dogs and jackals of northern Iran. Developing control programs to prevent transmission of the disease is necessary for dogs and humans in the study areas. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T18:15:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d468beb096094cdc835dff444b7bb933 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1746-6148 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T18:15:34Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Veterinary Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-d468beb096094cdc835dff444b7bb9332022-12-22T02:35:42ZengBMCBMC Veterinary Research1746-61482022-05-011811910.1186/s12917-022-03270-zPrevalence and molecular characterization of Dirofilaria immitis in road killed canids of northern IranMeysam Sharifdini0Mahan Karimi1Keyhan Ashrafi2Mostafa Soleimani3Hamed Mirjalali4Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical SciencesFoodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background Dirofilaria immitis is a mosquito-borne filarial nematode, which infects primarily wild and domestic canids, causing cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and characterize molecular features of D. immitis in road killed canids, northern Iran. Methods The carcasses of 53 road killed canids including 18 dogs (Canis familiaris), and 35 golden jackals (C. aureus) were necropsied in both Mazanderan and Guilan provinces, northern Iran. The molecular analyses were conducted based on the cytochrome oxidase (Cox) 1 and 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Results The heartworm infection was found in 55.6% of dogs and 22.9% of jackals. Our study revealed significantly higher prevalence of D. immitis in dogs compared to jackals (P = 0.031). The prevalence of D. immitis was no statistically significant between males and females in both dogs and jackal (P > 0.05). Comparison of the Cox1 gene sequences with available data in the GenBank illustrated 100% similarity with D. immitis isolates from different hosts in European, Asian, and South American continents. Moreover, the 18S rRNA gene sequences showed 100% identity with dog isolates from Japan and French Guiana. Conclusions This study confirms the high prevalence of D. immitis in dogs and jackals of northern Iran. Developing control programs to prevent transmission of the disease is necessary for dogs and humans in the study areas.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-022-03270-zDirofilaria immitisDogsJackalsIranPCR |
| spellingShingle | Meysam Sharifdini Mahan Karimi Keyhan Ashrafi Mostafa Soleimani Hamed Mirjalali Prevalence and molecular characterization of Dirofilaria immitis in road killed canids of northern Iran BMC Veterinary Research Dirofilaria immitis Dogs Jackals Iran PCR |
| title | Prevalence and molecular characterization of Dirofilaria immitis in road killed canids of northern Iran |
| title_full | Prevalence and molecular characterization of Dirofilaria immitis in road killed canids of northern Iran |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence and molecular characterization of Dirofilaria immitis in road killed canids of northern Iran |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and molecular characterization of Dirofilaria immitis in road killed canids of northern Iran |
| title_short | Prevalence and molecular characterization of Dirofilaria immitis in road killed canids of northern Iran |
| title_sort | prevalence and molecular characterization of dirofilaria immitis in road killed canids of northern iran |
| topic | Dirofilaria immitis Dogs Jackals Iran PCR |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-022-03270-z |
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