parasitological examination of stool samples referred to the microbiology laboratory of tehran university, the case series study

Despite the increasing popularity of dogs and cats as companion animals in iran, a significant portion of these animals remain unregistered in official records. these pets can harbor a variety of gastrointestinal parasites that can be transmitted to humans, including protozoa classified as microbes. transmission can occur through direct contact or the oro-fecal route. this poses a potential risk for the transmission of zoonotic infections, necessitating immediate attention and appropriate measures to ensure the health and safety of both animals and humans. the 355 randomly selected fecal samples submitted to the tehran university teaching hospital laboratory between july 2023 to july 2024 were analyzed based on diagnostic tests. each stool sample was collected in a designated container and sealed tightly to prevent desiccation. stool ova and parasite examinations were performed on each sample. 115 of the 355 submitted canine and feline fecal samples, were diagnosed with one or more of 10 different infectious microorganisms. the majority (more than 77%) of the identified species were zoonotic parasites, with protozoal infections being the most prevalent, including giardia spp. (n=53) and coccidia spp. (n=22). toxoplasma gondii was the most detected coccidia (n=17). nematodes were the next most prevalent, such as toxacara canis (n=15), toxacara cati (n=11), ancylostoma caninum (n=5), angiostrongylus vasorum (n=4), and toxascaris leonina (n=2). cestodes were the least prevalent, including hymenolepis nana (n=2) and dipylidium caninum (n=1). the systematic recording and registration of investigation into the prevalence of microbial infection data are crucial for the effective control of disease transmission within society. this proactive approach not only minimizes the substantial financial burden associated with treatment but also safeguards human health by preventing irreversible consequences, such as the risk of abortion caused by toxoplasma gondii.