Age and sex distribution of Dirofilaria immitis among dogs in Meshkin-Shahr, northwest Iran and molecular analysis of the isolates based on COX1 gene

Dirofilaria immitis is an important filarial nematode in dogs. In this study, age and sex distribution of this zoonotic nematode among dogs were investigated in northwest of Iran in Meshkin-Shahr city. Molecular characteristics of the isolates, based on cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COX1) gene were compared to the isolates from other areas of the world.Blood samples were collected from 91 dogs which were selected by simple classified accidental sampling. Thin and thick blood smear examinations were used to find out infectivity with D. immitis. DNA extraction was performed from adult D. immitis recovered from heart of infected dogs. The COX1 gene was amplified and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis was carried out using sequences obtained in this study along with relevant sequences deposited in the GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis and sequence variation was performed using MEGA software in comparison with those COX1 sequences deposited in GenBank. Out of 91 dogs, 19 (20.87%) were found positive for infection with D. immitis. There was no statistically significant difference between males and females of dogs in terms of D. immitis infection. However, the rate of infection in dogs more than 2 years old was significantly higher than those with lower age. Both sequences analyzed in this study showed 100% homology to each other. Intra-species variation of these isolates with those from other areas of the world amounted to 0 to 0.50%. Phylogenetic analysis of the COX1 gene suggested that it is conserved, and can be used for study on genetic diversity and classification of filarial nematodes.

[1]  M. Sharifdini,et al.  Morphological and molecular identification of Dirofilaria immitis from Jackal (Canis aureus) in North Khorasan, northeast Iran. , 2015, Journal of vector borne diseases.

[2]  M. Arbune,et al.  Dirofilariasis – an emergent human parasitosis in Romania , 2015, Acta parasitologica.

[3]  Guangyou Yang,et al.  Intraspecific genetic variation and phylogenetic analysis of Dirofilaria immitis samples from Western China using complete ND1 and 16S rDNA gene sequences. , 2014, The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene.

[4]  M. Hosseini,et al.  Sequence variation in mitochondrial cox1 and nad1 genes of ascaridoid nematodes in cats and dogs from Iran , 2014, Journal of Helminthology.

[5]  D. Otranto,et al.  Dirofilariosis in the Americas: a more virulent Dirofilaria immitis? , 2013, Parasites & Vectors.

[6]  E. Bazh.  Molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis of Heterakis gallinae from native chickens in Egypt , 2013, Parasitology Research.

[7]  S. Bohloli Oskoii,et al.  Study on Shepherd Dog Dirofilariosis in Kermanshah province in 2011-2012 , 2013 .

[8]  Jianbin He,et al.  Prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis in Dogs in Shenyang, Northeastern China , 2013, The Korean journal of parasitology.

[9]  T. Naucke,et al.  Morphometric analyses of canine blood microfilariae isolated by the Knott’s test enables Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens species-specific and Acanthocheilonema (syn. Dipetalonema) genus-specific diagnosis , 2013, Parasites & Vectors.

[10]  D. Otranto,et al.  Vector-borne helminths of dogs and humans in Europe , 2013, Parasites & Vectors.

[11]  J. González-Miguel,et al.  Human and Animal Dirofilariasis: the Emergence of a Zoonotic Mosaic , 2012, Clinical Microbiology Reviews.

[12]  A. Mirzaei,et al.  Characterization of single nucleotide polymorphism in the 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR) of Lactoferrin gene and its association with reproductive parameters and uterine infection in dairy cattle , 2012, Veterinary research forum : an international quarterly journal.

[13]  J. Cui,et al.  Molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis of Trichinella isolates from different provinces in mainland China , 2012, Parasitology Research.

[14]  A. Foroushani,et al.  Neospora caninum and Leishmania infantum Co-Infection in Domestic Dogs (Canis familiaris) in Meshkin-Shahr District, Northwestern Iran , 2011, Iranian journal of arthropod-borne diseases.

[15]  Xi-chen Zhang,et al.  Prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis infection in dogs from Dandong, China. , 2011, Veterinary parasitology.

[16]  H. Seifi,et al.  SURVEY OF CANINE DIROFILARIA IMMITIS INFECTION IN CASPIAN PROVINCES OF IRAN; SHORT PAPER , 2011 .

[17]  L. Harrington,et al.  Mosquito vectors of dog heartworm in the United States: vector status and factors influencing transmission efficiency. , 2011, Topics in companion animal medicine.

[18]  M. Nei,et al.  MEGA5: molecular evolutionary genetics analysis using maximum likelihood, evolutionary distance, and maximum parsimony methods. , 2011, Molecular biology and evolution.

[19]  B. Shemshadi,et al.  Epidemiological Aspects of Canine Dirofilariasis in the North of Iran , 2011, Iranian journal of parasitology.

[20]  R. Avizeh,et al.  SHORT PAPER: A STUDY ON DIROFILARIA IMMITIS IN HEALTHY URBAN DOGS FROM AHVAZ, IRAN , 2010 .

[21]  Abdoreza Salahi-Moghaddam,et al.  Ecological study and risk mapping of visceral leishmaniasis in an endemic area of Iran based on a geographical information systems approach. , 2010, Geospatial health.

[22]  I. Mobedi,et al.  Ocular Dirofilariasis, a Case Report , 2010, Iranian journal of parasitology.

[23]  R. Harbach,et al.  Distribution and ecology of mosquitoes in a focus of dirofilariasis in northwestern Iran, with the first finding of filarial larvae in naturally infected local mosquitoes , 2009, Medical and veterinary entomology.

[24]  Zhihe Zhang,et al.  Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of Dirofilaria immitis of China based on COI and 12S rDNA genes. , 2009, Veterinary parasitology.

[25]  I. Mobedi,et al.  Periocular dirofilariasis in a young woman: a case report. , 2008, The Korean journal of parasitology.

[26]  C. Genchi,et al.  Heartworm disease in animals and humans. , 2008, Advances in parasitology.

[27]  S. Bahadori,et al.  A STUDY ON FILARIOSIS OF STRAY DOGS IN GARMSAR , 2007 .

[28]  H. Chiou,et al.  Seroepidemiologic survey of Dirofilaria immitis infection among domestic dogs in Taipei City and mountain aboriginal districts in Taiwan (1998-1999). , 2001, Veterinary parasitology.

[29]  C. Bandi,et al.  A phylogenetic analysis of filarial nematodes: comparison with the phylogeny of Wolbachia endosymbionts , 2001, Parasitology.

[30]  Z. Khaksar,et al.  Prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis in Dogs of Fars Province of Iran , 1996 .

[31]  What Are All Those Funny Symbols in a Blast Printout? Blast = Basic Local Alignment Search Tool , 2022 .