Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Parasitology 1735-7020 14 4 2019 12 29 563 571 Abolghasem SIYADATPANAH Ferdows Paramedical School, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran AND Student Research Committee, Department of Parasitology, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran Shirzad GHOLAMI Department of Parasitology, Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran Ahmad DARYANI Department of Parasitology, Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran Shahabeddin SARVI Department of Parasitology, Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran Mehdi SHARIF Department of Parasitology, Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran Mauricio SEGUEL Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA Larson BOUNDENGA Department of Medical Parasitology, Group Evolution and Interspecies Transmission of Parasites, International Centre for Medical Research, Franceville (CIRMF), Franceville, Gabon Afsaneh AMOUEI Student Research Committee, Department of Parasitology, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran Abdol Sattar PAGHEH Student Research Committee, Department of Parasitology, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran Mohammad Taghi RAHIMI Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran Seyed Abdollah HOSSEINI Department of Parasitology, Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran Davood ANVARI Student Research Committee, Department of Parasitology, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran AND School of Medicine, Iranshahr University of Medical Sciences, Iranshahr, Iran 2018 09 08 2019 12 29 Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the current knowledge on the epidemiology of importance zoonotic parasitic diseases in free-ranging canids of Mazandaran, north of Iran. Methods: Overall, 63 small intestinal samples of animals (20 stray dogs and 43 golden jackals) were collected from April 2017 to May 2018. The intestine contents were studied to detect and identify helminth infections. Additionally, 274 fecal samples (130 dogs, 35 fox, 90 golden jackal and 19 wolf) were examined by Sheather's flotation method for detection of Taenia eggs. Results: Sixty (95.2%) animals were infected with at least one species of intestinal helminth. the intestinal helminths were found in dogs and golden jackals included: Dipylidium caninum (25.3%), Uncinaria stenocephala (52.3%), Ancylostoma caninum (41.2%), Mesocestoides spp. (33.3%) and Toxocara canis (14.2%). In fecal examination, 2.5% of samples contained Taenia eggs, and through a species-specific PCR, 1.09% of these samples were confirmed positive for Echinococcus granulosus. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence and clear risks of zoonotic helminths in free-ranging carnivores in Mazandaran province, north of Iran. Therefore, understanding the epidemiology of zoonotic parasite infection is useful for health care access both domestic animals and humans health. https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/view/2297