background: new cases of visceral leishmaniasis (vl) have been reported recently in some parts of mazandaran province, north of iran where the first human case of  vl was reported in 1949. this study aimed to determine the present status of leishmania infantum infection among humans and domestic dogs using serological and molecular methods in central parts of mazandaran province. methods: in th...

In this retrospective study, the usefulness of a PCR performed on serum for primary diagnosis and monitoring of Mediterranean visceral leishmaniasis (MVL) was assessed. In the case of primary diagnosis of MVL, the serum PCR showed a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 95%, with positive and negative predictive values of 94 and 97%, respectively.

A fundamental role for the endosymbiotic bacteria Wolbachia pipientis in the pathogenesis of Dirofilaria immitis infections has emerged in recent years. Diagnostic opportunities arising from this breakthrough have not yet been fully exploited. This study was aimed at developing conventional and real-time PCR assays to carry out a molecular survey in a convenience sample of cats living in an are...