Comparative study on the prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica protozoan Infection in Domestic Dog

Subject Areas : Smal Animal Medicine

Behnam Pedram ^{1 *} , Reza Naghiha Najafabadi ² , Mohammad Mohbbi ³ , Zahra Sadeghian ⁴ , Fatemeh Homayoon ⁵

1 - Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Shushtar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shushtar, Iran
2 - Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran
3 - Doctor of Veterinary Medicine graduate, Shushtar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shushtar, Iran
4 - Doctor of Veterinary Medicine student, Shushtar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shushar, Iran
5 - Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Student, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Shushtar Branch, Shushtar, Irana

Received: 2025-05-26 Accepted : 2025-07-19 Published : 2025-07-26

Keywords: Entamoeba histolytica, domestic dog, parasite, protozoan infection, PCR,

Abstract :

With the increasing interaction between humans and domestic animals, especially dogs, the investigation of zoonotic diseases has gained growing importance. Among these diseases, infection with Entamoeba histolytica as one of the significant causes of protozoan infections has received special attention. The present study was conducted with the aim of evaluating and comparing the prevalence of this infection in domestic dogs using two methods: direct smear and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In this study, 25 fecal samples were collected from domestic dogs of different ages and sexes and examined for the presence of the parasite. Microscopic examination showed that 7 samples were suspected of infection; however, the PCR test did not report any significant difference between the suspected samples and other samples. The findings indicate that the prevalence of E. histolytica infection in the studied population was not considerable, and PCR, as a more precise and specific method, can be effective in the more reliable diagnosis of this parasite. The results of this research can be useful in improving strategies for prevention, diagnosis, and control of zoonotic diseases.

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