Detection of pseudocyst forms of trichomonas muris in rodents from iran

Background: Trichomonas muris is one of the most common protozoa diagnosed in rodents. The trichomonads are generally described as presenting only trophozoite form while pseudocyst is another morphological form of trichomonads identified among gastrointestinal and genitourinary trichomonads. We identified and described different shapes of T. muris pseudocysts and trophozoite in stool samples were collected from rodents including Merinos persicus, Mus musculus and Cricetulus migratorius. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, stool samples from 204 trapped rodents were collected from Meshkin Shahr during Mar to Dec 2014. Samples were preserved in formalin 10 and PVA solution and transferred to Department of Medical Protozoology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Formalin-ether concentration method was used for the samples. The slides were stained with trichrome staining method and observed under light microscope. Results: The trophozoites were classified as T. muris based on size (18 to 24 µm), presence of three anterior flagella, recurrent flagellum, undulating membrane, and axostyle in direct examination and stained slides with trichrome staining method. Fifty-five out of 204 (27) rodents were infected with T. muris in which 51(25) samples pseudocysts form were observed. The spherical bodies of pseudocyst with almost 8 µm size, contained internalized flagella, an undulating membrane with recurrent flagellum, axostyle, and costa were seen. The pseudocysts were more prevalent than trophozoite form and pseudocysts were found with different shapes in this study. Conclusion: T. muris pseudocysts were found in stool samples of caught rodents for the first time in northwestern Iran. © 2018, Iranian Journal of Public Health. All rights reserved

Detection of pseudocyst forms of trichomonas muris in rodents from iran

Background: Trichomonas muris is one of the most common protozoa diagnosed in rodents. The trichomonads are generally described as presenting only trophozoite form while pseudocyst is another morphological form of trichomonads identified among gastrointestinal and genitourinary trichomonads. We identified and described different shapes of T. muris pseudocysts and trophozoite in stool samples were collected from rodents including Merinos persicus, Mus musculus and Cricetulus migratorius. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, stool samples from 204 trapped rodents were collected from Meshkin Shahr during Mar to Dec 2014. Samples were preserved in formalin 10 and PVA solution and transferred to Department of Medical Protozoology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Formalin-ether concentration method was used for the samples. The slides were stained with trichrome staining method and observed under light microscope. Results: The trophozoites were classified as T. muris based on size (18 to 24 µm), presence of three anterior flagella, recurrent flagellum, undulating membrane, and axostyle in direct examination and stained slides with trichrome staining method. Fifty-five out of 204 (27) rodents were infected with T. muris in which 51(25) samples pseudocysts form were observed. The spherical bodies of pseudocyst with almost 8 µm size, contained internalized flagella, an undulating membrane with recurrent flagellum, axostyle, and costa were seen. The pseudocysts were more prevalent than trophozoite form and pseudocysts were found with different shapes in this study. Conclusion: T. muris pseudocysts were found in stool samples of caught rodents for the first time in northwestern Iran. © 2018, Iranian Journal of Public Health. All rights reserved

Isolation of Acanthamoeba spp. from Different Environmental Sources

Background: Acanthamoeba spp. are free-living amebas found in a wide variety of natural habitats. The high percentage of Acanthamoeba in different environmental sources represents a sanitary risk for public health especially contact lens users and immunocompromised patients. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of Acanthamoeba spp. in different environments such as water, soil, dust and ophthalmology wards. Methods: From March to November 2007, 80 samples were collected from numerous localities in Tehran city including university campus, Laleh park and ophthalmology center. Sample types were water, soil, dust, cow faeces and medical in­strument. Each sample was filtered through nitrate membrane and cultured on 1% non-nutrient agar. These plates were fol­lowed up daily for 2 weeks. Monitoring continued for two months on a weekly basis.  Results: Overall, 46.25% of samples contained Acanthamoeba spp. All of the soil samples had shown positive culture in contrast to tap water. Of 61 dust samples, 28 were positive. Interestingly, we were able to isolate Acanthamoeba in treat­ment unit of an ophthalmology center in Tehran. It should be mentioned that two cow faeces showed positive culture as well.Conclusion: The widespread distribution of Acanthamoeba spp. across the environmental sources and increasing numbers of HIV+ patients and contact lens wearers, as well as its ability as a pathogen carrier for humans, demands  more awareness and knowledge for public as a risk for human health

Evaluation of Sensitivity of Plasmodium vivax to Chloroquine

"nBackground: To monitor the current response of P. vivax to chloroquine in South and Southeast Iran."nMethods: The study was undertaken from August 2004 until August 2005 at the Bandar- Abbas, Iranshahr, Nikshahr and Chabahar districts. A total of 195 patients out of 225 parasitologically positive P. vivax cases completed the study .The patients were given a standard 3- day regimen of chloroquine and followed-up clinically and parasitologically accord­ing to the world Health Organization guideline with some modifications. Results of study were addressed as mean of parasite clearance time (MPCT). "nResults: The patients responded to the regimen of chloroquine within 24-120 hours. The MPCTs of P. vivax for Ban­dar- Abbas, Iranshahr, Nikshahr and Chabahar districts were 63.05(±15.37), 56(± 21.7), 70.92 (±6.51) and 58(±14) hours, respectively and for the whole study area (South and South East of Iran) was 63.50(±15.84) hours. The results of the whole studied areas indicate that difference of MPCT between male and female patients is marginally significant (P=0.05)."nConclusion: Although, parasite clearance time for a number of cases occurred within 96 and 120 hours, no P. vivax para­sites had reappeared in considered patients after day five within 28 days follow- up, reflecting that chloroquine is still an efficacious drug for the treatment of vivax malaria in the studied districts. Higher MPCT in Nikshahr district than the other districts indicating this could be an early sign for reduced susceptibility of the parasite to the drug

Hexane fraction of roots and ethyl acetate fraction of fruits of Astrodaucus persicus extract showed potent antimalarial and cytotoxic activities

Background and objectives: Aerial parts and roots of Astrodaucus persicus (Apiaceae), a native plant of Iran, were investigated. The existence of compounds with 1, 3-benzodiaxole structures has been confirmed in roots of this plant and different benzodioxole compounds have shown antimalarial and cytotoxic activities; therefore, present study has evaluated the antimalarial and cytotoxic effects of various extracts of fruits and roots fractions of A. persicus. Methods: Ripe fruits and roots of A. persicuswere extracted with 80% methanol and fractionated by different solvents. Antimalarial activity of fractions against Plasmodium berghei was investigated in mice and parasitemia and suppression percentage were reported for each fraction. Cytotoxicity of fractions were determined by MTT assay against human breast adenocarcinoma; MCF-7, colorectal carcinoma; SW-480 and normal L-929 cell lines.  Results: Hexane fraction of roots extract and ethyl acetate fraction of fruits extract at 500 mg/kg/day were the most active fractions exhibiting 73.3 and 72.3 % suppression on the fourth day, respectively. Hexane fraction of roots extract showed potent anticancer activities against breast (IC50 of 0.01 µg/mL) and colorectal (IC50 of 0.36 µg/mL) cancer cell lines compared to doxorubicin with IC50 of 0.35 and 2.50 µg/mL, respectively. Cytotoxic activity of RHE on normal cell lines was almost equal to doxorubicin. Conclusion: The results of this study have shown potent antimalarial and cytotoxic effects of hexane roots fraction of Astrodaucus persicus extract. On the other hand, ethyl acetate fraction of fruits extract showed antimalarial activity with no cytotoxicity

Sequence Analysis of Different Domains of Plasmodium Vivax Apical Membrane Antigen (PvAMA-1 Gene) Locus in Iran

Background: Plasmodium vivax is responsible for approximately 80 million malaria cases in the world. Apical membrane antigen1 (AMA-1) is a type I integral membrane protein present in all Plasmodium species. AMA-1 interferes in critical steps of invasion of human hepatocytes by sporozoites and red blood cells by merozoites and is one of the most immunodominant antigens for eliciting a protective immune response in human. It is considered as a promising antigen for inclusion in a vaccine against P. vivax. Since more knowledge is needed to lighten the scope of such antigen we compared genetic variation in P. vivax AMA-1from an Iranian isolate with those reported from some of the other malarious countries so far.Methods: P. vivax genomic DNA was extracted from the whole blood of an Iranian patient with patent P. vivax infection. The nucleotide sequence for 446 amino acid (AA) residues (42-488 of PvAMA-1) was amplified by PCR and cloned in pUC19 vector for sequencing.Results: Sequence analysis of the antigen showed a high degree of identity (99%) with strong homology to the PvAMA-1 gene of P. vivax S3 and SKO814 isolates from India and Korea (Asian isolates) respectively, and 96% similarity with P. vivax Sal-1 AMA-1 gene from El Salvador.Conclusions: We cloned and characterized three domains of PvAMA-1 gene from an Iranian patient. Predicted protein sequence of this gene showed some discrepancies in corresponding protein in comparing with similar genes reported from other malarious countries

Detection of Malaria Parasites and Other Haemosporidia in Migratory and Native Birds in Mazandaran and Golestan Provinces, Iran

Background: A variety of haemoprotozoa including Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon cause infections in birds and are transmitted by some known vectors. These parasites cause anemia, low appetite, weakness and ultimate-ly death in birds. The present study was aimed to determine these parasites, in birds of Mazandaran and Golestan prov-inces in Iran.Methods: The project was performed on 340 live birds in 2016. The samples were collected from February to Septem-ber 2016, from each bird, two thin and thick blood smears were prepared and the remaining blood about 1ml was kept in EDTA-containing tubes for molecular studies. The slides were stained with 10 Giemsa, then examined microscopical-ly. About ten percent of the negative samples were considered for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique, using specific primers to diagnose Plasmodium and Haemoproteus spp. Electrophoresis was done for PCR products and rele-vant bands to the parasites were identified based on the size. The considered birds belonged to ducks, chickens, roosters, and pigeons.Results: From 340 microscopically examined blood samples 32 (9.5) samples were positive. Twenty-five (7.35) of them were infected with the genus Haemoproteus. Seven samples (14) out of 50 microscopically negative samples were found as Haemoproteus or Plasmodium spp when PCR technique was employed.Conclusion: This study revealed the existence of malaria parasites and other haemosporidia in birds in Iran. Employing molecular methods (PCR examination) could detect more infections

First report of Lophomonas spp. in German cockroaches (Blattella germanica) trapped in hospitals, northern Iran

Cockroaches are considered to be important reservoirs for protozoan and helminth parasites,particularly an emerging Lophomonas spp., protozoan parasite. German cockroaches, Blattella germanica (B. germanica), are domestic pest distributed worldwide. However, little information is available regarding the burden of Lophomonas spp. infestation among domestic cockroach population worldwide. The present study investigated parasitic agents, emphasizing Lophomonas spp. infestation among B. germanica in northern Iran. During spring and summer 2018, a total of 496 adults B. germanica (265 males and 231 females) were trapped by hand and glass traps from the teaching hospitals in Mazandaran, Sari, northern Iran. All cockroaches were identified using taxonomic keys. Each cockroaches was anesthetized with chloroform and the alimentary tract removed. Each section was smeared onto a glass slide. All the smears were examined under light microscopy to determine the presence of the parasites. Ten genera of parasites were identified from the trapped B. germanica; overall, 233 (47) were found to be positive for helminths (n = 135) and protozoa (n = 98). The helminths included Aspiculuris tetraptera egg (67/233, 28.7), Oxiuros sp. (39/233; 16.7), Dentostomella translucida (17/233; 7.3), and nematodes Ova (12/233; 5.2). The protozoan parasites identified Gregarina sp. (61/233; 26.2), Entamoeba sp. (19/233; 8.2), Blastocystis sp. (5/233; 2.1), Lophomonas (4/233; 1.7), Nyctotherus sp. (4/233; 1.7), unclassified flagella (5/233; 2.1). Lophomonas spp. was detected within the gut of B. germanica, for the first time, in Iran. It has previously been identified in the gut of cockroaches a long time ago, however, this is the first attempt to detect Lophomonas in cockroaches housing in hospitals. Thereby, it possibly presenting pose a serious respiratory infection risk for patients and health care personnel. © 2021, Indian Society for Parasitology