The Prevalence of Intestinal Helminths in Free-Ranging Canids of Mazandaran, Northern Iran

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the current knowledge on the epidemiology of importance zoonotic parasitic diseases in free-ranging canids of Mazandaran, north of Iran. METHODS: Overall, 63 small intestinal samples of animals (20 stray dogs and 43 golden jackals) were collected from April 2017 to May 2018. The intestine contents were studied to detect and identify helminth infections. Additionally, 274 fecal samples (130 dogs, 35 fox, 90 golden jackal and 19 wolf) were examined by Sheather's flotation method for detection of Taenia eggs. RESULTS: Sixty (95.2%) animals were infected with at least one species of intestinal helminth. the intestinal helminths were found in dogs and golden jackals included: Dipylidium caninum (25.3%), Uncinaria stenocephala (52.3%), Ancylostoma caninum (41.2%), Mesocestoides spp. (33.3%) and Toxocara canis (14.2%). In fecal examination, 2.5% of samples contained Taenia eggs, and through a species-specific PCR, 1.09% of these samples were confirmed positive for Echinococcus granulosus. CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence and clear risks of zoonotic helminths in free-ranging carnivores in Mazandaran province, north of Iran. Therefore, understanding the epidemiology of zoonotic parasite infection is useful for health care access both domestic animals and humans health.