Seroprevalence of IgG and IgM antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in pre-pregnancy women in Yazd, Iran

Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is an important zoonotic disease produced by ingesting food contaminated with oocysts and tachyzoites of this parasite and as well as congenital infection occurs unintentionally in humans by the placenta. The study of this parasite in pre-pregnancy women is of paramount importance because of abortion, hydrocephalus, microcephalus, intracranial calcifications, retinochoroiditis, strabism, blindness, epilepsy, psychomotor and mental retardation. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the seroepidemiology of T. gondii infection in pre-pregnancy women referring to private laboratories in Yazd city. In this study, blood was sampled from 185 pre-pregnancy women. Anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies were determined in separated serum samples using the ELISA test. Data were entered in Excel 2016 to calculate the percentages. The results indicated that 50 (27.03%) out of 185 pregnant women were positive for anti-Toxoplasma antibodies. Among these women, IgG and IgM antibodies were observed in 35 (18.91%) and 14 (7.56%) subjects, respectively. Both antibodies were found in the serum of one participant (0.5%). Since the anti-T. gondii antibody level is low in the blood serum of pregnant women in this region; pregnant women are recommended to avoid contact with cats, restrain from eating raw meat and food during pregnancy, and be tested for T. gondii at least once, particularly in the first trimester of pregnancy

Ectoparasites and Endoparasites of New Zealand White Rabbits from North West of Iran

Background: Rabbits contain several parasites that can be harmful to their health as well as human being’s health due to the probability of causing parasitic zoonosis. The present research was designed to study ectoparasites and endoparasites of New Zealand White rabbits in North West of Iran and potential risks of parasitic zoonosis for researchers and owners.&#x0D; Methods: Totally, 50 rabbits were purchased from rabbit sellers and breeders in suburbs of Urmia and Tabriz between Jul and Dec 2016. The rabbits were assessed for ectoparasites by hair brushing, skin scraping, acetate tape preparation and othic swabs. They were euthanized and inspected for helminths and protozoa infection. Faecal sampling was carried out directly from recti and the oocysts or cysts were isolated using sedimentation and floatation techniques and the sporulated oocyst were identified based on morphological.&#x0D; Results: The following parasites, with their respective prevalence; Nematoda: Passalurus ambigus 54%, Trichostrongylus retortaeformis 42%, Nematodirus leporis 32%, Cestoda: Cysticercus pisiformis 26%, Protozoa: Eimeria steidae 44%, E. magna 30%, E. media 12% and Arthropoda: Sarcoptes scabiei 18% and Cheyletiella parasitivorax 38%. No significant difference was recorded in infection rate between male and female rabbits.&#x0D; Conclusion: Both domestic and wild rabbits are a potential source of human parasitic zoonosis, and strict hygienic practices are recommended during and after handling rabbits or in case of exposure to their feces.</jats:p

Phylogenetic, molecular, and microscopic investigation of Linguatula serrata infection in stray and road-killed dogs in Northwest Iran

Abstract Background Linguatula serrata is a cosmopolitan zoonotic parasite. Canids serve as definitive hosts, while herbivores acts as intermediate hosts. Adult L. serrata are found in the nasal and respiratory passages, whereas the immature stages are located in the mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, spleen, lungs, and, occasionally in other organs. Humans can serve as intermediate hosts, with visceral infections, or as definitive hosts with nasopharyngeal infections. This study aimed to investigate the infection rate of stray and road-killed dogs with L. serrata and to explore its phylogeny. Material and methods A total of 150 stray dogs and 100 road-killed dogs were examined for L. serrata eggs in feces and nasal secretions using microscopy and molecular tests, and for adult L. serrata through necropsy. Results The results showed that 174 of 250 (69.6%) studied dogs were positive for L. serrata by at least one of the examination methods. The prevalence in road-killed and stray dogs was determined to be 72% and 68%, respectively. The L. serrata infection rate based on fecal microscopy in the road-killed and stray dogs was 29% and 46.7%, respectively, and by fecal PCR was 59% and 48.7%, respectively. The rate of infection with L. serrata based on nasal secretions in road-killed and stray dogs was 14% and 26%, respectively, using microscopy, and 44% and 43.3%, respectively, using PCR. In the road-killed dogs, based on necropsy, 46% were positive. The results of this study show that PCR is more effective than microscopy for detecting L. serrata infections in dogs. PCR amplicon of the expected size for Linguatula of approximately 595 bp for 18S rRNA were generated from the L. serrata isolates using described specific primers. Conclusion It can be concluded that the rate of infection in dogs and possibly other carnivores, herbivores, and man, is high in this locality; hence, strict control measures should be conducted to overcome the risk of infection with this zoonotic disease

Prevalence of <i>Linguatula</i> sp., a food-borne zoonotic aberrant arthropod, in river buffaloes slaughtered at Tabriz slaughterhouse, Iran

Abstract Background Canids and herbivores are the definitive and intermediate hosts of Linguatula sp., respectively. Methods Mesenteric lymph nodes (n=32 525) were randomly collected from 7585 buffaloes from July 2016 to July 2019 and examined macroscopically. Results Results showed that 388 (5.11%) buffaloes were infected. The intensity of infection was determined to be 3.07±0.07. Significant statistical association was identified between infection rate and age and sex. Although there were no significant differences in the infection rate over different seasons, the highest infection rate was observed in autumn. Conclusions These data highlight the importance of inspection at slaughter. </jats:sec

Detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) and cattle (Bos taurus) at the Tabriz abattoir, Iran

Abstract Background Toxoplasma gondii is a widely prevalent zoonotic protozoan parasite in humans and warm‐blooded animals worldwide. Infection of humans by this parasite can result in severe clinical symptoms, particularly in individuals with congenital toxoplasmosis or immunocompromised patients. Contamination mainly occurs through foodborne routes, especially the consumption of raw or undercooked meat from animals. Objectives The aim of this study was to use PCR to detect T. gondii in tissues and organs of buffaloes and cattle slaughtered at Tabriz slaughterhouse, in Iran. Methods Fifty grams of heart, thigh, diaphragm and tongue from 50 buffaloes and 100 cattle slaughtered at the Tabriz industrial slaughterhouse were selected for sampling using a combination of convenience sampling. The samples were tested using a previously published PCR method. Results Out of the 150 animal samples, T. gondii was detected in 10 (6.7%, 95%CI: 3.2–11.9), including one buffalo (2%, 95%CI: 0.1–10.6) and nine cattle (9%, 95%CI: 4.2–16.4). There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of T. gondii infection among cattle based on age and sex (p > 0.05). Conclusions The results indicated a potential risk of T. gondii transmission to humans through the consumption of infected meat. Therefore, appropriate and effective preventive measures should be taken to limit the transmission of this parasite to humans, and the consumption of raw and undercooked meat should be discouraged

Use of PCR to determine Toxoplasma gondii in milk samples from camels (Camelus dromedarius), cattle (Bos taurus) and buffalos (Bubalus bubalis) in East Azarbaijan province, Iran

Abstract Background Toxoplasmosis as a zoonotic condition is developed by an intracellular protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii from the Apicomplexa phylum, which imposes economic losses on herds of animals and severe complications in immunocompromised people and pregnant women. This infectious disease can be transmitted to human beings from the contaminated unpasteurized milk, uncooked meat, water and food contaminated with sporulated oocysts and transplacental transmission. Objectives This study amid to determine T. gondii DNA in camel, buffalo and cow milks in using the PCR method based on the B1 gene. Methods A total of 100 milk samples, including 55 cows, 30 buffalos and 15 camels, were collected from different regions of north‐western using direct milking and then transferred to the Food and Aquatic Health Laboratory under refrigerated conditions. Results The results showed that out of 100 milk samples examined, 5 samples (5%) were contaminated, and T. gondii DNA was detected in the milk samples of 2 (3.63%) cows, 1 (3.33%) buffalos and 2 (13.33%) camels, respectively. Conclusions Our findings reveal that raw milk contaminated with T. gondii can be an important route of transmission of infection for human beings

Palladium-catalyzed carbonylation of aryl halides: an efficient, heterogeneous and phosphine-free catalytic system for aminocarbonylation and alkoxycarbonylation employing Mo(CO)₆ as a solid carbon monoxide source

Preparation and characterization of palladium nanoparticles immobilized on magnetic methionine-functionalized chitosan as a highly efficient, air stable, and readily reusable heterogeneous catalyst in carbonylation reactions.</p

Effects of irradiation on the survival of Sarcocystis bradyzoites in beef

Abstract Background Sarcocystis is a food‐borne zoonotic protozoan whose final hosts are humans, dogs, cats, and other carnivores and intermediate hosts are birds and mammals, especially humans and herbivores. Humans become infected by eating raw and undercooked meat contaminated with bradyzoites or by consuming water or food contaminated with the sporocyst stage of the parasite. Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of gamma radiation and electron beam on the survival rate of Sarcocystis bradyzoites in infected beef and to determine the effective dose. Methods Three replicates of 100 g of infected meat were treated with different doses (0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 kGy). As a control, 20 g of contaminated meat was stored separately at 4°C. The viability of the bradyzoites after digestion in pepsin solution was assessed, stained (trypan blue) and unstained, under a stereomicroscope. To assess survival of the bradyzoites, the irradiated meat samples were fed to 30 dogs. After 10 days, faecal samples were examined for sporocysts. Results The results showed that the highest and lowest mortality rate of Sarcocystis bradyzoites in infected organs using electron beam at a dose of 2 kGy were 92.5% and 100%, respectively, and the lowest mortality rate at a dose of 0.5 kGy were 2.5% and 7.89%, respectively. Conclusion The results of statistical analysis showed that the mortality rate of Sarcocystis bradyzoites was significant between different doses of gamma ray and electron beam, so that gamma rays were better compared to electron beam in destroying Sarcocystis bradyzoites