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.

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.

Comparative analysis of the karyotype structure was made in two hedgehog species: the northern white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus roumanicus) and the African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris). The cytogenetic analysis used differential staining techniques (DAPI, Ag-NOR, and C-banding/DAPI) and sequential QFQ/FISH banding with NOR20 and TEL20 probes which showed 45S rDNA and (TTAGGG)ₙ repeat sequences, respectively, on hedgehog chromosomes. It was confirmed that the somatic cells of the hedgehogs have a constant number of chromosomes (2n = 48,XY). Differences were observed in the NOR number between the species. NORs were identified on three autosome pairs in the northern white-breasted hedgehog and on only two pairs in the African pygmy hedgehog. Chromosome analysis by C-banding/DAPI showed large segments of heterochromatin rich in A-T pairs on three autosome pairs in both the northern white-breasted and African pygmy hedgehogs. The heterochromatin segments encompassed large fragments of the longer arm of chromosome pairs 13, 14 and 20. The (TTAGGG)ₙ repeat sequences on the hedgehog chromosomes were only observed in the terminal position of all the chromosomes in both species. Our observations provide new information on the level of diversity within the Erinaceidae family.

Comparative analysis of the karyotype structure was made in two hedgehog species: the northern white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus roumanicus) and the African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris).

Introduction: Laryngeal swab samples collected from three waterfowl slaughterhouses in central Taiwan were cultured and suspected isolates of Riemerella anatipestifer were identified by API 20NE and 16S rDNA PCR. Material and Methods: Serum agglutination was used for serotyping, and antimicrobial susceptibility was tested. Results: Seventy-six R. anatipestifer isolates were detected, and the prevalences in the ducks and geese were 12.3% (46/375) and 8.0% (30/375), respectively. The positive isolation rates were 65.6% for all arriving waterfowl, 76.0% for birds in the holding area, 1.6% for defeathered carcasses, but zero for degummed carcasses. A PCR examination detected R. anatipestifer in the slaughtering area frequently. Serotype B was dominant in both duck (34.8%) and goose (46.7%) isolates, but the wide serotype distribution may very well impede vaccination development. All isolates were resistant to colistin, and 79.7% were resistant to more than three common antibiotics. Conclusion: The results proved that most ducks had encountered antibiotic-resistant R. anatipestifer in rearing, which suggests that the bacterium circulates in asymptomatic waterfowl. It is worth noting that most waterfowl farms were found to harbour R. anatipestifer, and contaminated slaughterhouses are a major risk factor in its spread. Effective prevention and containment measures should be established there to interrupt the transmission chain of R. anatipestifer.

Introduction: Laryngeal swab samples collected from three waterfowl slaughterhouses in central Taiwan were cultured and suspected isolates of Riemerella anatipestifer were identified by API 20NE and 16S rDNA PCR.

Introduction: There is still lack of morphological and phylogenetic information on the pathogenic nematode of the camel Haemonchus longistipes. In the present study, this parasite was isolated in Saudi Arabia and described. Material and Methods: The abomasa of two Arabian camels were collected from a slaughterhouse in Abha province and examined for nematode infection. Worms were described morphologically and morphometrically by electron microscopy. Multiple sequence alignment and the phylogenetic tree of the parasite were constructed from maximum likelihood analysis of its ITS-2 rDNA sequences. Results: These nematodes had a slender body terminating anteriorly at a conspicuous dorsal lancet. A pair of lateral cervical papillae distant from the anterior end was observed. The buccal aperture was hexagonal and surrounded by two amphids, six externo-labial papillae, and four cephalic papillae. Males terminated posteriorly at a bursa supported by spicules and lateral and dorsal rays. Females were linguiform and knobbed morphotypes with distinct ovijectors and a dorsal rim covering the anal pore. The taxonomy was confirmed by the morphology and number of the longitudinal cuticular ridges in a 43–46 range. The sequence alignment and phylogeny revealed 92% homology with H. longistipes (AJ577461.1), and the sequence was deposited into GenBank. Conclusion: The present study describes H. longistipes morphologically and molecularly which facilitates further discrimination of this species worldwide.

Introduction: There is still lack of morphological and phylogenetic information on the pathogenic nematode of the camel Haemonchus longistipes. In the present study, this parasite was isolated in Saudi Arabia and described.

Introduction: The giant liver fluke, Fascioloides magna, has spread across Europe over the years posing a serious threat to the Polish cervid population. Material and Methods: Macroscopic and histopathological studies of the liver of 22 roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), 10 red deer (Cervus elaphus), and 6 fallow deer (Dama dama) were performed. Species determination of the recovered liver flukes and eggs was performed by PCR protocol amplifying fragments of ribosomal DNA (ITS2), according to a standard method. Results: The presence of F. magna was confirmed in three (13.6%) roe deer, seven (70.0%) red deer, and two (33.3%) fallow deer. The fluke eggs were found only in the stools of five red deer and one fallow deer. Conclusion: This study presents detailed pathological and histopathological changes in the liver of wild Polish cervids, including roe deer, which were subjected to such study for the first time. The hepatic lesions typical for different stages of liver cirrhosis varied depending on the host species and stage of the disease.

Introduction: The giant liver fluke, Fascioloides magna, has spread across Europe over the years posing a serious threat to the Polish cervid population. Material and Methods: Macroscopic and histopathological studies of the liver of 22 roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), 10 red deer (Cervus elaphus), and 6 fallow deer (Dama dama) were performed. Species determination of the recovered liver flukes and eggs was performed by PCR protocol amplifying fragments of ribosomal DNA (ITS2), according to a standard method. Results: The presence of F. magna was confirmed in three (13.6%) roe deer, seven (70.0%) red deer, and two (33.3%) fallow deer. The fluke eggs were found only in the stools of five red deer and one fallow deer. Conclusion: This study presents detailed pathological and histopathological changes in the liver of wild Polish cervids, including roe deer, which were subjected to such study for the first time. The hepatic lesions typical for different stages of liver cirrhosis varied depending on the host species and stage of the disease.

Introduction: The paper describes identification of Trichinella species isolated from wild boars (Sus scrofa) in the most popular hunting region of the West Pomeranian Province of Poland.Material and Methods: The Trichinella larvae were identified by digestion method. For species identification of the larvae, multiplex PCR was used according to the European Reference Laboratory for Parasites Multiplex PCR protocol. The results were confirmed by molecular amplification of 5S rDNA gene and sequence analysis.Results: Prevalence of 0.54% Trichinella–positive wild boars in the West Pomeranian Province was recorded. Examination of the larvae showed the occurrence of T. spiralis in 79 %, T. britovi in 16.5 %, mixed infection with T. spiralis/T. britovi in 3.5%, and T. pseudospiralis in 1.0% of the boars.Conclusion: This is the first record of wild boar infected with non-encapsulated larvae of T. pseudospiralis in Poland. The species is very difficult to determine, especially using trichinoscopic method. The discovery of the larvae in the animals which may be intended for human consumption confirms that digestion technique should be the only method used for the inspection of meat, especially that from wild boars..

Introduction: The paper describes identification of Trichinella species isolated from wild boars (Sus scrofa) in the most popular hunting region of the West Pomeranian Province of Poland.