Prevalence of Coenurus cerebralis in sheep in Northwest of Iran

AbstractThis survey was carried out to determine the infection rate of Coenurus cerebralis in Urmiaabattoir, West Azerbaijan, Iran. A total of 402 sheep heads were examined and the number ofC. cerebralis cysts per each head was recorded. Thirty three sheep heads were examined eachmonth during 12 months from 2006 to 2007. Of 402 heads, a number of 75 heads (18.65%)were infected with C. cerebralis. The cysts located in the left and right hemispheres andcerebellum were 54.63%, 40.20% and 5.15%, respectively. The infected heads contained 1-4cysts. The highest and lowest prevalence were detected in sheep in March (42.42%) and in July(2.94%), respectively. The infection rates according to age of sheep were 42.02% in 0.5 to 2years, 22.50% in 2 to 4 years and 8.92% in older than 4 years. The age specific infection ratesamong age groups were significantly differed (P < 0.05). Infection rate in Haraki breed(27.77%) was higher comparing to the rate in the Ghezel breed (21.13%) and Makoie breed(23.91%). However differences between sheep breeds were not statistically significant (P > 0.05)

Identification of the Nosema spp., a microsporidian parasite isolated from the honey bees (Apis mellifera) and its association with honey bee colony losses in apiaries of Iran

The aim of this study was to determine the Nosema species by microscopic and molecular method and its association with honeybee colony losses (Colony Collapse Disorder) in apiaries of Urmia, Northwest of Iran. For this purpose, honeybee samples were collected from 840 colonies kept in 120 apiaries in five different location of Urmia. The specimens were examined for the presence of Nosema spores. After DNA isolation, the 16S rRNA gene was evaluated using multiplex PCR. Total infection prevalence with the microscopic evaluation was 32% while in PCR test was 58.2%. Nosema positive samples were evaluated by PCR sequencing. Based on the results of PCR, all identified cases were N. ceranae. The obtained sequences were transferred to GenBank/NCBI (samples accession numbers MT001887 and MT001893). The results showed the prevalence of Colony Collapse Disorder like symptoms in the studied honeybee colonies were 13.33%. N. ceranae was detected by PCR in 20.28 % of honeybee colonies with Colony Collapse Disorder like signs. Our findings showed that there was a significant relation between Colony Collapse Disorder and presence of N. ceranae. The results of this study concluded that N. ceranae is the only specie that affects the honeybees which may have an important role in the occurrence of collapse of bee families and depopulation of hives in this area

Susceptibility of Protoscoleces of Hydatid Cyst to Various Concentrations of Oak Gall (Quercus infectoria Olivier) Extract at Different Exposure Times In Vitro

Background Chemotherapy is currently used in treatment of different diseases, yet its various adverse effects has led to difficulties in its use for treating hydatid cysts. This leads to use of different non-chemical materials, such as plant extracts as alternatives to chemotherapy in order to cure hydatid cysts. Objectives The aim of the present study was to investigate Quercus infectoria Olivier extract effects on hydatid cysts. Methods In this experimental study, various concentrations of Quercus infectoria Olivier extract at different exposure times were evaluated under laboratory conditions for their scolicidal effects on hydatid cysts. To this end, protoscoleces were collected from the livers of sheep affected by hydatid cysts and they were placed under exposure of various concentrations of Q. infectoria extract (10, 25, and 50 mg/mL) for various durations of 10, 20, 30, and 60 minutes. Staining with 0.1% eosin was used to specify the viability of protoscoleces. The SPSS software (version 19, Chicago) was the software used to perform the statistical analysis. Results The obtained results indicate that Q. infectoria extract with the concentration of 50 mg/mL is able to kill all protoscoleces during 20 minutes. It is understood that the scolicidal effects of Q. infectoria on hydatid cysts was significant compared to the control groups (P < 0.05). Conclusions The obtained results delineate higher scolicidal efficacy of Q. infectoria’s methanolic extracts; nevertheless, more research should be conducted to confirm the in vivo effects of Q. infectoria on curing hydatid cysts in human beings and different herbivorous animals

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

<p align="center"><strong>A survey of hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) </strong><strong>infesting</strong><strong> donkeys in West Azerbaijan Province, Iran</strong><strong></strong></p>

Donkeys (Equus asinus) are economical for use in small-scale farming and are handy in third world countries with a poor infrastructure. Ticks are one of the most important external parasites which affecting the equine industry with high economic impact. The main objective of this study was to determine the tick species of donkeys that occur in the Northwest of Iran as possible risk for tick-borne diseases. The study was conducted during the four seasons in 2013 in 15 villages of West Azerbaijan province. During four seasons a total of 455 Ixodidae ticks were collected comprising 3 genera of hard ticks including Hyalomma, Rhipicephalus and Dermacentor. These 3 genera included four species. The main species were Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum, Hyalomma marginatum, Rhipicephalus bursa and Dermacentor marginatus. Although the parasite did occur throughout the year, there was a seasonal variation in the prevalence of ticks. Some of the collected ticks may play an important role for transmission of vector borne disease to donkeys; therefore, there is a need to investigate the potential tick vectors involved in the transmission of heamoparasites in donkeys in this region

Molecular Divergence in Flea Ctenocephalides Canis From West and Northwest of Iran

Abstract BackgroundFleas of the family Pulicidae are the most common ectoparasites infesting domestic livestock worldwide. The main aim of the present study was to demonstrate the degree of molecular divergence between Ctenocephalides canis fleas in the Western and Northwestern of Iran, based on nuclear and mitochondrial genes, including ITS1and ITS 2 and cytochrome c-oxidase 1 (cox1) mtDNA. MethodsA total of 918 C. canis fleas was collected. The obtained morphometric data and DNA sequencing results did not show significant differences between C. canis specimens from the different regions or hosts. However, there was a significant degree of molecular divergence among the ten populations based on nuclear markers.ResultsThe degree of molecular divergence between different isolates of C. canis based on ITS1and ITS 2 genes was 0.15% and 3.36%, respectively. But analysis of the sequencing results shows that there was no molecular divergence between the ten populations based on the Cox1 marker.ConclusionsStudy of internal transcribed spacer ITS1 and ITS2 of rDNA and the partial cox1 mtDNA gene showed that these fragments are useful tools for interspecific divergence rates, species-level differentiation and confirm the diagnosis of species C. canis.</jats:p

Anthelmintic effects of some medicinal plants on different life stages of Fasciola hepatica: Evidence on oxidative stress biomarkers, and DNA damage.

Fasciolosis caused by Fasciola hepatica is a major public health and economic problem worldwide. Due to the lack of a successful vaccine and emerging resistance to the drug triclabendazole, alternative phytotherapeutic approaches are being investigated. This study investigated the in vitro anthelmintic activity of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) essential oils (EOs) against F. hepatica. The in vitro study was based on an egg hatch assay (EHA), adult motility inhibition assays, DNA damage, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level along with several oxidative stress biomarkers including glutathione peroxidase (GSH), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA). To this end, different concentrations of L. angustifolia and C. siliqua EOs (1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 mg/mL) were used to assess anthelmintic effects on different life stages including egg, and adults of F. hepatica for 24 hrs. The results indicated that these EOs play a significant role as anthelminthics, and the effect was dependent on time and concentration. The in vitro treatment of F. hepatica worms with both L. angustifolia and C. siliqua EOs increased DNA damage, ROS production and induction of oxidative stress (decreased SOD, GST and GSH, and increased MDA), significantly compared to control. Therefore, it can be concluded that L. angustifolia and C. siliqua EOs have the potential to be used as novel agents for the control and treatment of F. hepatica infections. Further studies are required to investigate their pharmacological potential and effectiveness in vivo for the treatment of parasitic infections

Identification of the Nosema spp., a microsporidian parasite isolated from the honey bees (Apis mellifera) and its association with honey bee colony losses in apiaries of Iran

The aim of this study was to determine the Nosema species by microscopic and molecular method and its association with honeybee colony losses (Colony Collapse Disorder) in apiaries of Urmia, Northwest of Iran. For this purpose, honeybee samples were collected from 840 colonies kept in 120 apiaries in five different location of Urmia. The specimens were examined for the presence of Nosema spores. After DNA isolation, the 16S rRNA gene was evaluated using multiplex PCR. Total infection prevalence with the microscopic evaluation was 32% while in PCR test was 58.2%. Nosema positive samples were evaluated by PCR sequencing. Based on the results of PCR, all identified cases were N. ceranae. The obtained sequences were transferred to GenBank/NCBI (samples accession numbers MT001887 and MT001893). The results showed the prevalence of Colony Collapse Disorder like symptoms in the studied honeybee colonies were 13.33%. N. ceranae was detected by PCR in 20.28 % of honeybee colonies with Colony Collapse Disorder like signs. Our findings showed that there was a significant relation between Colony Collapse Disorder and presence of N. ceranae. The results of this study concluded that N. ceranae is the only specie that affects the honeybees which may have an important role in the occurrence of collapse of bee families and depopulation of hives in this area.</jats:p

In Vitro Assessment Antiparasitic Effect of Selenium and Copper Nanoparticles on Giardia deodenalis Cyst

Background: Application of chemotherapy to treatment of parasitic disease of man and animals can be problematic due to different adverse effects. As a result, there is an increasing interest in nanoparticles as new therapeutic tools against these diseases. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of selenium and copper oxide nanoparticles on Giardia deudenalis cysts in vitro, as well as comparing it to that of metronidazole.&#x0D; Methods: The cysts were taken from the stools of patients in Urmia, Iran, during 2017-2018. The cysts were taken from stool and were concentrated and isolated on 0.85 M-sucrose. Then, selenium and copper oxide nanoparticles were prepared at concentrations of 0.15, 0.3, and 0.6 mg/ml. The effect of nanoparticle’s various concentrations at 10, 15, 30, 60, and 180 min were evaluated and compared to control groups. Obtained data was recorded and statistically analyzed.&#x0D; Results: Copper oxide nanoparticles at a concentration of 0.6 mg/ml and selenium nanoparticles at a concentration of 0.3 mg/ml had the same effect as of metronidazole in killing of Giardia cysts. The cytotoxic effects of selenium and copper oxide nanoparticles, compared with metronidazole, on Giardia cysts, showed an increase of fatality rate due to extend exposure time and nanoparticle’s concentration (P&lt;0.05).&#x0D; Conclusion: Selenium and copper oxide nanoparticles are as efficient as metronidazole, for killing Giardia cysts in vitro.</jats:p