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Background: Staphylococci are the most common cause of pyoderma in dogs. Aims: The purpose of the present study was to investigate clinical, bacteriological and histopathological aspects of bacterial skin infections in a population of Iranian domestic dogs with first-time pyoderma. Methods: The study animals were 61 clinical cases of Iranian domestic dogs with first-time pyoderma. The diagnosis of pyoderma was based on the history, the presence of variable gross cutaneous lesions, positive findings on microscopic examination of surface cytology and histopathological findings. Results: Detection of pyoderma amongst adult dogs was significantly higher than puppies (P=0.001). Large breed dogs were presented more frequently for pyoderma in comparison to small breeds (P=0.002). Bacterial species were recovered from 43 of the 61 (70.49%) studied animals. No isolates were recovered from 18 studied dogs. The most frequently recovered bacterial genus was Staphylococcus (32/43 isolates, 74.41%) including: S. epidermidis (22/43 isolates, 51.16%), S. aureus (7/43 isolates, 16.27%), and S. pseudintermedius (3/43 isolates, 6.97%). Staphylococci species resistance was most commonly seen against amoxicillin (94.11%), penicillin (83.35%), and ampicillin (76.47%). Resistant to cephalexin and cefoxitin was 5.88% and 2.94%, respectively. A total of 27 of the staphylococci isolated (84.37%) were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent and 19 isolates (59.37%) were resistant to three or more antimicrobial drugs. Conclusion: A better understanding of this microbial population is critical for clarification of the pathophysiology of bacterial skin diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We attempted to determine the prevalence of Hepatozoon spp. infection in Mashhad, northeast of Iran, via blood smear parasitology. Methods: The prevalence was investigated by examination of blood smear parasitology, using blood samples collected from 254 dogs (51 strays and 203 privately owned-dogs). Results: Two stray dogs (2/51; 3.92%) and two privately-owned dogs (2/203; 0.98%) were infected with Hepatozoon spp. Therefore, as per blood smear parasitology, the prevalence of Hepatozoon spp. infection was 1.57% (4/254). Sixteen out of 254 dogs (6.29%) were infested with ticks; all of which were Rhipicephalus sanguineus. One of the dogs infected with Hepatozoon spp. exhibited ticks at the time of examination. Concurrent infection with Ehrlichia canis and Leishmania infantum was not detected in the four Hepatozoon spp. infected dogs. Conclusion: This is the first epidemiological study on the prevalence of Hepatozoon spp. infection in dogs in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]