A Molecular Study on Hepatozoon canis Infection in Dogs in Tehran (Iran)

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

1 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Food Industry and Agriculture, Standard Research Institute (SRI), Karaj, Iran

2 Department of Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Hepatozoonosis is a protozoal disease caused by various species of Hepatozoon. This parasite is transmitted from tick; the main vector of Hepatozoon canis is usually the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus). However, several species of ticks are disposed as the alternative vectors. Dogs are usually infected by eating the tick or a part of the tick organ infected by the mature oocysts containing infectious sporozoite. In the current study, a total of 145 blood samples were collected from the cephalic vein of pet, stray, and shelter dogs in Tehran. To conduct this study, first thin blood smears were prepared from all the samples and stained with the Giemsa method. Then, after extraction of DNA from the blood samples, in order to trace Hepatozoon canis, the 18S rRNA gene segment of the parasite was amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). To confirm the PCR-positive results, five randomly selected PCR-positive samples were sequenced. According to the results, through direct observation of microscopic slides, no infection of H. canis parasite was observed, but according to the PCR results, 32 out of the 145 blood samples were found to be infected by H. canis.  In this study, infection to H. canis in older dogs was higher than in young dogs, and more male dogs were found to be infected by the parasite compared to female dogs; but no significant difference was observed in this regard (P > 0.05). Moreover, stray dogs showed a significantly higher rate of infection, compared to the pet and shelter ones (P < 0.05).

Keywords

Main Subjects


Article Title [French]

Une Étude Moléculaire sur l'Infection à l'Hepatozoon canis chez les Chiens de Téhéran (Iran)

Abstract [French]

L'hépatozoonose est une maladie à protozoaires causée par diverses espèces d'Hepatozoon. Ce parasite est transmis par des tiques et le principal vecteur d'Hepatozoon canis est généralement la tique du chien brun (Rhipicephalus sanguineus). Cependant, plusieurs espèces de tiques représentent des vecteurs alternatifs. Les chiens sont généralement infectés après avoir ingérés la tique ou une partie de leur organe infecté par des oocystes matures contenant des sporozoïtes infectieux. Dans cette étude, un total de 145 échantillons de sang a été prélevé à partir de la veine céphalique des chiens de compagnie, des chiens errants et des chiens d’abri dans la ville de Téhéran. Des premiers frottis sanguins ont été préparés à partir de tous les échantillons et colorés avec la méthode Giemsa. Ensuite, dans le but de détecter la présence d’Hepatozoon canis, l'ADN des échantillons de sang a été extraite, et le segment du gène de l'ARNr 18S du parasite a été amplifié en utilisant des amorces de réaction en chaîne par polymérase (PCR) spécifiques. Pour confirmer les résultats positifs de la PCR, cinq échantillons positifs ont été sélectionnés au hasard et séquencés. D’après les résultats obtenus, aucune infection reliée directement au parasite H. canis n’a été observée à partir des lames microscopiques, alors que les résultats de la PCR montraient que 32 des 145 échantillons desang éxaminés étaient positifs. L'infection à H. canis était plus élevée chez les chiens âgés que chez les jeunes chiens. De plus, il a été constaté que le nombre de chiens infectés par le parasite était supérieur à celui des chiennes; sans pour autant que cela soit statistiquement significatif (p> 0,05). Enfin, les chiens errants présentaient logiquement un taux d'infection significativement plus élevé que les chiens de compagnie et les chiens d’abri (P <0,05).

Keywords [French]

  • Hepatozoon canis
  • Chien
  • PCR
  • Téhéran
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