This research evaluated the effluent proportion of E. coli and ETEC in RTE meat products, characterized the isolated strains' clonal relatedness, and determined their antibiotic resistance. 130 RTE products were gathered from various restaurants and street fast food vendors in Duhok and Zakho Province. The Isolates of E. coli identified by culture methods were confirmed as ETEC by multiplex PCR of the identified virulence genes. ERIC-PCR was applied to establish the clonal relationships between strains. The disk diffusion method performed the susceptibility of antibiotics on the isolated ETEC. Out of 130 examined samples, 39 (30%) isolates of E. coli and 16 (12.3%) ETEC were detected. Pan-fried burgers were revealed to be the most frequent contaminated sample type, with both E. coli and ETEC 50% and 23.3%, respectively (P≤0.05). A high clonal dispersion (12 genotypes) was observed among the isolated ETEC strains. A strong genetic linkage was discovered between a few isolates retrieved from the same sample type and within the strains from the same geographic source area. A high antibiotic resistance rate was observed with total resistance to Amoxicillin/clavulanate, Clarithromycin, Doxycycline, Erythromycin, and Clindamycin. Isolates from burger samples showed a higher resistance rate when compared with the other sample types (P≤0.05). Multi-drug resistance was noticed in all ETEC isolates. RTE meat products sold in our area have a high rate of clonally heterogeneous carrying multi-drug resistant ETEC and may constitute a significant public health risk.

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.

An indirect ELISA technique was used to determine the prevalence of infection in sera and milk samples among goats and sheepin Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. Results of the present study shows that the prevalence of infection was higher in sera compared to milk samples among goats and sheep as follow: (6.3, 4.2%) and (8.9, 5.6%) respectively and there was no statistical significance difference in goats at P value =0.42, also there was no statistically differences at P value= 0.22. ELISA results also shows that the prevalence according to the age among goats and sheep were higher in animal aged > 2 years in both sera and milk samples were (7.5, 5.3%) and (11.3, 7%) respectively and there was no significant difference between age groups of goats and sheep by ELISA. The present study is the first study done to determine the prevalence of F. hepatica in both sera and milk samples among local goats and sheep. Continuously screening of sheep and goats for Fascioliasis and using of anthelmintic to control the infection in small ruminants is necessary

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.

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