In vitro assessment of the anthelmintic activity of copper oxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles on egg and adult stages of Fasciola hepatica: evidence on oxidative stress biomarkers, and DNA damage

Abstract Objectives Fasciolosis is of significant economic and public health importance worldwide. The lack of a successful vaccine and emerging resistance in flukes to the drug of choice, triclabendazole, has initiated the search for alternative approaches. In recent years, metallic nanoparticles have been extensively investigated for their anthelmintic effects. This study investigates the in vitro anthelmintic activity of copper oxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles against Fasciola hepatica. Methods The in vitro study was based on egg hatchability test (EHA), adult motility inhibition tests, DNA damage, ROS levels, as well as several biomarkers of oxidative stress, including glutathione peroxidase (GSH) and glutathione S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA). For this purpose, different concentrations of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) and Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) (1, 4, 8, 12, and 16 ppm) were used to evaluate the anthelmintic effect on different life stages, including egg and adults of Fasciola hepatica, over 24 h. Results In vitro treatment of F. hepatica worms with both CuO-NPs and ZnO-NPs could significantly increase ROS production and oxidative stress induction (decreased SOD, GST and GSH and increased MDA) compared to control group. Conclusions Based on the results, it seems that CuO-NPs and ZnO-NPs may be effective in the control and treatment of F. hepatica infection. Further research is needed to investigate their potential for in vivo use in the treatment of parasitic infections

Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in sheep and goats blood samples by PCR - RFLP in Urmia

Infection by the protozoan parasiteToxoplasma gondii, is widespread in humans and manyother warm-blooded animals. More than half billion of world human population has serumantibodies toT.gondiiand Sheep and goats are more widely infected withT. gondii.T. gondiiinfection can be diagnosed indirectly with serological methods and directly bypolymerasechainreaction (PCR), hybridization, isolation and histology. A total number of 124 goats and113 sheep blood samples were collected from Urmia region andPCRwas used for detection ofthe pathogenic protozoanT. gondiiusing B1 gene. The targeted B1 gene is highly conserved inallT. gondiistrains andis multiple copy genes whit in theT. gondiigenome. The method usedfor the characterization ofT. gondiistrains implied digestion withAluIrestriction enzyme of thefragments amplified. The results indicated three positive sheep (1.26%) with one RFLPpatterns. The results indicated that the same strain ofT. gondiihas infected sheep in the region

Investigation of hematological and biochemical parameters in small ruminants naturally infected with Babesia ovis

Babesia ovis plays an important role in causing anemia and kidney dysfunction in affected animals. There are few extensive studies about hematological and biochemical findings of small ruminants' babesiosis caused by B. ovis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of babesiosis on some hematological and biochemical parameters in infected small ruminants with B. ovis. A total of 280 sheep and 122 goats from 40 herds were randomly examined for the presence of B. ovis in blood samples. Of 402 samples, 67 animals (16.7%) were positive for B. ovis of which 52 (18.5%) were sheep and 15 (12.2%) goats, respectively. The infected animals were divided into four subgroups according to parasitemia rates (<1%, 1%, 2%, and 3%). As a control group, 67 uninfected animals were also selected from the same farms. With increase in parasitemia rates, hemoglobin concentration (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cells (RBCs), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) significantly decreased (P < 0.05), while, total leukocyte count, number of lymphocyte, monocyte, neutrophil and eosinophil showed a significant increase (P < 0.05). Infected animals presented a significant elevation (P < 0.05) of total proteins and significantly lower level (P < 0.05) of albumin compared to non-infected animals. Significant elevation (P < 0.05) of BUN, creatinine, cholestrol, triglyceride, HDL and LDL level were found with parasitemia progression

Molecular Detection and Differentiation of Theileria lestoquardi, T. ovis and T. annulata in Blood of Goats and Ticks in Kermanshah Province, Iran

Background: This study was carried out to identify Theileria spp. infections in goats and ticksin Kermanshah Prov­ince, western Iran from May–Sep 2015.&#x0D; Methods: For differentiation of different Theileria spp. both blood and tick samples were examined by nested PCR-RFLP.&#x0D; Results: Light microscopy of blood smears revealed Theileria spp. infection in 22 (5.5%), while 68 (17%) of blood samples were positive using nested PCR. Out of 68 positive samples, 85.3% (58/68) and 11.7% (8/68) were respec­tively positive for Theileria ovis and T. lestoquardi. Mixed infection was detected in 3% (2/68) cases. Overall, 420 ixodid ticks belong to seven different hard ticks species were collected from goats. Rhipicephalus turanicus 112 (26.7%), R. sanguineus 95 (22.6%), R. bursa, 91(21.7%), Hyalomma anatolicum, 55(13.1%), H. excavatum 27(6.4%), H. marginatum, 22(5.3%) and Dermacentor marginatus, 18(4.2%) were the main tick species infesting goats. The PCR products obtained from ticks were subjected to the differentiation of Theileria species. Respectively, 2 and 8 pools of H. marginatum and R. turanicus salivary glands were infected with T. ovis and T. lestoquardi. In addition, T. annulata and T. lestoquardi infection weredetected in three pools of H. anatolicum.&#x0D; Conclusion: This is the first report of goats and collected ticks to Theileria spp infection in Iran. The results suggest that T. ovis has a higher prevalence than T. lestoquardi. It is also postulated H. marginatum, R. turanicus and H. ana­tolicum might play an important role in the field as a vector of Theileria spp in this area.</jats:p

Prevalence of Linguatula Serrata Infection in Domestic Ruminants in West Part of Iran: Risk Factors and Public Health Implications

Linguatulosis is one of the neglected parasitic zoonoses. Domestic ruminants are the important source for human infection. The main goal of the present investigation was to evaluate the prevalence of nymphal stages of L. serrata in domestic ruminant in Hamedan province, western Iran. The mesenteric and mediastinal lymph node of 1080 animals were taken randomly from different slaughterhouses of Hamedan province. All lymph nodes were examined for nymphal stage of L. serrata using parasitological methods (digestion technique). The nymph of L. serrata was found in 31.4% (69/220) of goats, 15% (60/400) of sheep, and 7.4% (34/460) of cattle (P=0.457). The infection rate in beef cattle, dairy cattle and native cattle was 1.3%, 6.4% and 12.6%, respectively (P=0.981). No evidence of correlation between gender, age groups, and L. serrata infection rate in sheep and cattle (P>0.05). In goats, the infection rate in >2yr old (48%) was higher than .2yr old (8.6%) (P<0.0001, OR=5.6); also the infection rate was 23.7% and 35.7% in male and female goats, respectively (P=0.065). This is the first report of linguatulosis in domestic animals from western Iran. The results indicate that linguatulosis may partly be responsible for economic losses in domestic ruminant husbandry in this region. Therefore, designing control strategies for a better management in animals farm to reduce the risk of zoonotic outbreaks is highly recommende

Immunomodulatory Effects of the Somatic Antigens of Fasciola Hepatica and Teladorgasia Circumcincta in Mice Immunized with Sheep Red Blood Cells

Background & Objective: Infestation of humans with helminth parasites can reduce the severity of some auto-inflammatory symptoms in humans. This study was done to evaluate the impact of the somatic antigens extracted from Fasciola hepatica (as an indicator Trematode) ,and Teladorgasia circumcincta (as an indicator nematode) on the immune responses of NMRI mice challenged with sheep red blood cells (SRBCs). Materials & Methods: The mice in treatment groups were intraperitoneally immunized with 1×109 SRBCs twice with 14 days intervals. Concurrent with the immunization, the mice received the extract of each of the parasites (50,100. And 150 µg of protein) or placebo, throughout the study on a daily basis. The specific cellular immune responses and the anti-SRBC antibody titers were detected by footpad thickness and, microhemagglutination test, respectively. Splenocytes were also monitored for cytokine production, proliferation rate, and respiratory burst. Results: The extracts of F. hepatica and T. circumcincta had an opposite effect on the change of the Anti-sRBC antibody level. The extract of F. hepatica caused a significant decrease in the antibody level whereas, extract T. circumcincta did not show any significant changes in the anti-SRBC antibody. Both extracts caused a significant decrease in the level of delayed-type hypersensitivity. However, the extract of F. hepatica caused a more profound reduction in the severity of delayed-type hypersensitivity. The level of IFN-γ in the splenocytes of immunized mice receiving the F. hepatica showed a more pronounced decrease than the immunized mice receiving the extract of T. circumcincta extract. IL-10 levels were only increased in the immunized mice that received the extract of F. hepatica. Conclusion: The extract of F. hepatica may have an immunosuppressive property, while the extract of T. circumcincta may have immunomodulatory properties.   Keywords