Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences1028-88801812-5735Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/pjbs.2011.133.137GholamiShirzad DaryaniAhmad SharifMehdi AmoueiAfsaneh MobediIraj 22011142The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence rate of helminthic parasites in stray dogs' population especially zoonotic infections and to identify potential risk factors in the different areas of Sari city in Caspian area, north of Iran. During the period from April to September 2007, 50 stray dogs were collected from urban areas of Sari city. Recovered parasites were fixed in alcohol and stained by carmine then observed by microscope. The taxonomic study was carried out by measuring different parts of the body of helminthes and statistical tests were performed using the Chi-square test. A total of 27 adult and 23 juvenile stray dogs were collected and the overall prevalence rate of infection was 90%. The three most common helminthes were Toxocara canis (60%), Ancylostoma caninum (46%) and Dipylidium caninum (36%). Other parasites were Uncinaria stenocephala (12%), Taenia hydatigena (6%), Spirocerca lupi (6%), Dirofilaria immitis (6%), Toxascaris leonina (2%), Rictularia sp. (2%), Taenia ovis (2%) and Taenia taeniformis (2%). Five species of zoonotic helminthes recovered were T. canis, A. caninum, U. stenocephala, D. caninum and D. immitis. Hookworm infections (58%) were more common significantly in the young stray dogs (p<0.01). In regard to prevalence of A. caninum, T. canis and U. stenocephala, there was significant difference between juvenile and adult dogs (p<0.05). The results highlight the potential role of stray dogs for transmission of helminthic parasites particularly zoonotic parasites that are a significant risk to human health.]]>Anderson, R.C.,19922nd Edn.,Arbabi, M. and H. Hooshyar,2006357581Battelli, G., A. Mantovani and A. Seimenis,2002444357Bugg, R.J., I.D. Robertson, A.D. Eliot and R.C.A. Thompson,1999157295301Claerebout, E., S. Casaert, A.C. Dalemans, N. De Wilde, B. Levecke, J. Vercruysse and T. Geurden,20091614146Conraths, J. and B. Gottstein,20072007pp: 42-45pp: 42-45Dalimi, A., G. Motamedi, M. Hosseini, B. Mohammadian, H. Malaki, Z. Ghamari and F.G. Far,2002105161171Dalimi, A., A. Sattari and G. Motamedi,2006142129133Dubey, J.P., G. Schares and L.M. Ortega-Mora,2007Neospora caninum.]]>20323367Eckert. J., P.M. Schantz, R.B. Gasser, P.R. Torgerson, A.S. Bessonov and S.O. Movsessian,20012001pp: 100-142pp: 100-142Eguia-Aguilar, P., A. Cruz-Reyes and J.J. Martinez-Maya,2005127139146Eslami, A. and S.H. Hosseini, 1998Echinococcus granulosus infection of farm dogs of Iran.]]>84205207Fontanarrosa, M.F., D. Vezzani, J. Basabe and D.F. Eiras,2006136283295Gholami, S., I. Mobedi, H. Ziaee and M. Sharif,19999512Khalil, L.F., R.A. Bray and A. Jones,1994Pages: 751Pages: 751Macpherson, C.N.L. and T.W.M. Wachira,1997Cystic echinococcosis in Africa, South of the Sahara.]]>1997pp: 245-277pp: 245-277Macpherson, C.N.L., F.X. Meslin and A.I. Wandeler,2000Martinez-Moreno, F.J., S. Hernandez, E. Lopez-Cobos, C. Becerra, I. Acosta and A. Martinez-Moreno,2007143713Mehrabani, D., S.M. Sadjjadi and A. Oryan,200222157160Minnaar, W.N., R.C. Krececk and L.J. Fourie,2002107343349Oliveira-Sequeira, T.C.G., A.F.T. Amarante, T.B. Ferrari and L.C. Nunes,20021031927Oryan, A., S.M. Sadjjadi, D. Mehrabani and M. Kargar,200853617624Ramirez-Barrios, R.A., G. Barboza-Mena, J. Munoz, F. Angula-Cubillan, E. Hernandez, F. Gonzalez and F. Escalona,20041211120Rausch, R.L.,19951995pp: 89-134pp: 89-134Razmi, G.H.R.,200944854Romig, T.,2003388209217Rubel, D., G. Zunino, G. Santillan and C. Wisnivesky,2003Toxocara canis in the dog population from two areas of different socioeconomic status, Greater Buenos Aires, Argentina.]]>115275286Sadjjadi, S.M.,200655S197S202Sattari, A., A. Dalimi and F. Moshiri,2008Echinococcus granulosus in stray dogs, red foxes and jackals in Western Iran.]]>315Sharif. M., A. Daryani, M. Nasrolahei and S.P. Ziapour,201019257261Thompson, R.C.A. and D.P. McManus,2002Echinococcus.]]>18452457Wen, H. and W.G. Yang,199767133145Yamaguti, S.,1961Vol. 3,Mehrabani, D., A. Oryan and S.M. Sadjjadi,1999Echinococcus granulosus infection in stray dogs and herbivores in Shiraz, Iran.]]>86217220Sadjjadi, S.M., M. Khosravi, D. Mehrabani and A. Orya,2000Toxocara infection in school children in Shiraz, Southern Iran.]]>46327330