Prevalence and morphological characterizations of Linguatula serrata nymphs in camels in Isfahan Province, Iran

Linguatula serrata, well known as tongue worm; is an aberrant cosmopolitan parasite, which inhabits the canine respiratory system (final host). The discharged eggs infect many plant feeder animals including human causing visceral and nasopharyngeal linguatulosis which is known as “Marrara syndrome”. In current study, the prevalence of infection with L. serrata nymphs in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) of slaughtered camels was investigated in Isfahan Province, Iran. The MLNs of 232 slaughtered camels, including 115 females and 117 males, were examined for L. serrata nymphs. Camels were categorized into four age groups, namely under six months, six months to two years, two to four years and greater than four years. Also, the morphometrics of the nymphs were measured using the classic parasitology methods. Results showed that 21.12% of examined camels were infected with L. serrata. Age and sex had no significant effect on the prevalence of this parasite in camels. The size of the different parts of nymphs’ body were recorded and evaluated. The infection rate to the nymphs of parasite in hemorrhagic and black-colored lymph nodes were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher than the infection rate in normal-colored nodes. Also, results showed that in soft lymph nodes, the infection rate was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) more than those of normal and hard nodes. A high prevalence of infection in camels suggests possibility of similar high rate of infection in other animals, and people in the investigated area. This, in turn, emphasizes the need for more preventive measures to reduce the risk of zoonotic outbreaks

First record of Tabanus lunatus from Iran

Τον Αύγουστο του 2015, το Tabanus lunatus Fabricius, 1794 (Diptera: Tabanidae) καταγράφηκε για πρώτη φορά στο Ιράν. Δύο θηλυκά συλλέχθηκαν στην περιοχή Nazlo κοντά στην πόλη Urmia. Στην εργασία αυτή δίδονται πληροφορίες σχετικά με τη μορφολογία και την εξάπλωση του είδους αυτού.In August 2015, the species Tabanus lunatus Fabricius, 1794 (Diptera: Tabanidae) was recorded for the first time from Iran. Two females were collected in Nazlo area near Urmia. Information on its morphology and distribution is give

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

First record of Tabanus lunatus from Iran

Τον Αύγουστο του 2015, το Tabanus lunatus Fabricius, 1794 (Diptera: Tabanidae) καταγράφηκε για πρώτη φορά στο Ιράν. Δύο θηλυκά συλλέχθηκαν στην περιοχή Nazlo κοντά στην πόλη Urmia. Στην εργασία αυτή δίδονται πληροφορίες σχετικά με τη μορφολογία και την εξάπλωση του είδους αυτού.In August 2015, the species Tabanus lunatus Fabricius, 1794 (Diptera: Tabanidae) was recorded for the first time from Iran. Two females were collected in Nazlo area near Urmia. Information on its morphology and distribution is give

The complete mitochondrial genome of Linguatula serrata (tongue worm) isolated from a dog and phylogenetic analysis

The complete mitogenome of Linguatula serrata isolated from nasal cavity of a dog was characterized for the first time. The total size of the circular mitogenome was 15,328 bp consisting of 37 genes including 13 protein coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes and two control regions. Phylogenetic tree was constructed based on 17 closely related species and their genetic relationship with Linguatula serrata was analysed

<strong>First report of <em>Ixodes (Pholeoixodes) hexagonus</em> on chukar (<em>Alectores chukar</em>) in Northwest of Iran and it’s public health importance</strong>

Ixodid ticks are obligatory blood-sucking ectoparasites of various mammals, birds, reptiles and vectors of different agents of diseases in both man and livestock. Ixodes hexagonus was reported from different parts of the globe and it is important as a vector of different diseases such as Lyme disease. A total of 53 chukars were sampled. The birds were obtained from hunters or dealers on different occasions from several localities across the south of Urmia city, West Azerbaijan of Iran. In this study, we report infestation of I. hexagonus in chukar and it is the first report of I. hexagonus from Iran. The results indicated that 28 chukars were infected by ticks. Considering that the I. hexagonus is one of the major vectors of Borrelia burgdorferi, Babesia microti and Rickettsia conori, the report of this tick in this region could mean more disease transmission. More attention should be given to the search of this parasite in similar geographical regions in Iran. Additionally, molecular work should be done to show the importance of I. hexagonus tick in the transmission of different diseases especially Lyme borreliosis.

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

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

Early Stage of Acute Coenurosis in Iranian Native Sheep- Case Report

Cerebral coenurosis is the intermediary larval stage of Taenia multiceps, which affects intermediate hosts, particularly sheep and goats. In this report, gross and microscopic features of three scarce natural coenurosis cases, a oneyear-old ram and two lambs of 7 month old from a flock are explained. Atnecropsy, numerous small cysts measuring 5 to 10 mm in diameter were observed on both cerebrum and cerebellum surfaces, likewise multiple deep parts of which. In histopathological examination of the neural tissue, severe tissue destruction, a distinct layer of Gitter cells formation around the cysts,neuronophagia, gliosis and perivascular infiltration of lymphocytes were observed. In this early stage of parasite life cycle, larval migration and destruction of tissue, also aggregation of glial cells around the cysts cause a loose connection between cysts and neural tissue