Toxoplasmosis is a cosmopolitan zoonotic parasitic disease of mammals and birds; human infection occurs through consumption of raw or undercooked meat. Little was known about the infection rate of T. gondii among free range local chickens (Gallus domesticus) in Duhok province. Therefore, the present study was carried out to determine the infection rate in Duhok province by using ELISA (IgG) and conventional PCR. A total of 368 blood samples were collected from free range local chickens distributed in five different areas of Duhok province during the period from November 2016 to March 2017. The collected blood samples were from different sexes (hens and cocks) and from different age groups (less than 6 months and older than 6 months). The data found that the total infection rate was (84 / 368) 22.8% by ELSIA. The presence of the infection was confirmed by PCR and DNA sequencing. In this study, there were differences from area to area in the infection rates, the highest rate was reported in Semel district at 33.7% which was significantly (p<0.05) higher than 21.7%, 18.3%, 18.0% and 17.6% were reported in Akre, Shekhan, Amedi and Bardarash, respectively. However, no significant difference was found between age and sex groups, the results showed that hens and older chickens reported higher infection rates than cocks and younger age. The high prevalent of toxoplasmosis among free range chickens in Duhok province, it is highly recommended to follow strict hygienic measurements in order to minimize the role of chickens in transmission of infection to human.

In an ad hoc survey conducted during 2006, the epidemiology of tropical theileriosis in Kurdistan Region, Iraq, was addressed. For this purpose, a total of 299 blood samples were collected from female cattle older than 1 year reared under open system management in Duhok (n = 99), Sulaimanyia (n = 100) and Erbil (n = 100) governorates. The samples were subjected to TaSP indirect ELISA as well as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nested PCR assays. The results indicated that the seroprevalence was 77.9%, and PCR reported an infection rate of 68.9% in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The implication of the results in the epidemiology of tropical theileriosis in the region is discussed with emphasis on comparisons between the two tests used and recommendations for the future work are outlined.

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Introduction: Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic infection of human and animals caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. The study aimed to detect the seroprevalence of anti T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies and their associated factors in addition to the molecular detection by conventional PCR in women in Duhok Province. Methods: In the current analytical study, 650 serum samples from women (388 aborted and 262not aborted), were collected randomly between November 2016 and March 2017 in Duhok Province. By using a commercial ELISA kit, IgG and IgM antibodies against T. gondii were estimated. In molecular study, DNA was extracted from seropositive samples, then by PCR, B1 gene was amplified and the product visualizes and sent to sequencing. Results: The study revealed that 28.0% (182/650) of women were seropositive against anti T. gondii IgG antibodies, while 0.46% (3/650) were seropositive against anti T. gondii IgM antibodies, and all the three cases were recorded among women who had contact with cats and seropositive IgG (70.7% vs. 29.3%) with significant difference (P<0.001). Beside to the contacting with cats, residency and occupation had a relationship with seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in women, in which housewives (61.4% vs 38.6%) with significant difference. (P<0.001) and women had lived in rural (69.8% vs. 30.2%) with significant difference (P<0.001) had a higher percentage of seropositive IgG than employee and women those lived in urban respectively, Only 5(8.3%). serum samples among 60 randomly selected samples from seropositive samples by ELISA were positive by PCR. Conclusions: The present study showed a considerable percentage of women having toxoplasmosis. The women have a low seroprevalence of IgM, but a higher seroprevalence of IgG antibodies. Contact with cats, residency and occupation have an important role in infection by T. gondii.

BackgroundIntestinal parasitic infections are the most prevalent infections in human among developing countries, and these infections can cause gastro intestinal disorders, abdominal colic, anemia, growth retardation, and other complications such as appendicitis. Materials and MethodsA retrospective study of five years from 2013-2017 were included, the information were obtained from the records of patients that attended Azadi-Teaching Hospital in Duhok City, Kurdistan Region. The patients were sent to the laboratory department by the physicians for stool examination. The stool samples were examined by direct wet mount smears with normal saline and lughole's iodine techniques. Results In the current study out of 3,976 stool samples, 1,196 were positive for one or more of the intestinal parasites of the following intestinal parasites, Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lambilia, Trichomonas hominis, Enterobious vermicularis and Hymenolypis nana.The highest infection rate was detected in males than females which were, 656(54.8%), 540(45.2%), respectively. The most common parasites detected were E. histolytica, other parasites are reported at low rates, (28.3%) G. lambilia (1.1%), E. vermicularis (0.05%) and H .nana (0.1%). ConclusionThe current study indicated that the prevalence of intestinal protozoan parasites was more than helminthes, which is considered as an important public health problem in the human population.