Prevalence and genotyping identification of Cryptosporidium in adult ruminants in central Iran

Background Apicomplexan parasites of the genus Cryptosporidium infect a wide range of animal species as well as humans. Cryptosporidium spp. can cause life threatening diarrhea especially in young animals, children, immunocompromised patients and malnourished individuals. Asymptomatic cryptosporidial infections in animals can also occur, making these animals potential reservoirs of infection. Methods In the present study, a molecular survey of Cryptosporidium spp. in ruminants that were slaughtered for human consumption in Yazd Province, located in central Iran was conducted. Faeces were collected per-rectum from 484 animals including 192 cattle, 192 sheep and 100 goats. DNA was extracted from all samples and screened for Cryptosporidium by PCR amplification of the 18S rRNA gene. Positives were Sanger sequenced and further subtyped by sequence analysis of the 60 kDa glycoprotein (gp60) locus. Results In total, Cryptosporidium spp. were detected in 22 animals: C. andersoni and C. bovis in seven and two cattle faecal samples, respectively, C. ubiquitum in five sheep, and C. xiaoi in six sheep and two goat samples, respectively. To our knowledge, this study provides for the first time, molecular information concerning Cryptosporidium species infecting goats in Iran, and is also the first report of C. ubiquitum and C. xiaoi from ruminants in Iran. Conclusion The presence of potentially zoonotic species of Cryptosporidium in ruminants in this region may suggest that livestock could potentially contribute to human cryptosporidiosis, in particular among farmers and slaughterhouse workers, in the area. Further molecular studies on local human populations are required to more accurately understand the epidemiology and transmission dynamics of Cryptosporidium spp. in this region

The Mineral Content of Sesame Seed and Its Transition to Ardeh and Refined Sesame Oil

Background and objective  It was shown that contamination of agricultural pasturage with fertilizers, application of sewage and effluents in irrigation, use of pesticides and air pollution have led to the entrance of chemical contaminants, including metals, into plants. On the other hand, food processing is (handling, processing, transportation) considered as an important way of food contamination. Vegetable oils are essential in human dietary which is introduced as crucial sources of energy, fat soluble vitamins, and essential fatty acids. Sesamum indicum L., known as sesame seed, has been cultivated in Asian countries from ancient times as vegetable oil for cooking and seasoning ingredients. In recent years, the sesame oil has been considered due to its high antioxidant activities and nutritional properties. Due to the use of sesame seeds extracted oil in two form of ardeh oil and sesame oil, the amounts of mineral elements (phosphorus, potassium, iron, nickel, cobalt, manganese, calcium and magnesium) in sesame seeds and its extracted oils (ardeh oil and refined sesame oil) were investigated.   Materials and Methods  In order to determine the mineral concentration, refined sesame oil and ardeh oils were prepared from an imported sesame seed. In order to prepare the sesame oil, sesame seeds were put into a cold presser and the oil was extracted under low pressure. The Ardeh oil was prepared by adding water to sesame paste in the ratio of 2.2:10 and oil was separated by centrifugation. The sesame seeds and oil samples (refined sesame oil and ardeh oils) were digested by microwave digestion method in presence of 5 ml 65% nitric acid and 2 ml of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The digested samples were then filtered through 0.45 µm filter membrane. Then, the concentrations of phosphorus, potassium, iron, nickel, cobalt, manganese, calcium and magnesium in sesame seeds, ardeh oil and refined sesame oil were examined using Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP – OES).   Results  In the present study, the limit of detection (LOD) for each studied mineral elements were determined as nickel: 4 mg/kg, magnesium: 0.00066 mg/kg, manganese: 0.000134 mg/kg, phosphorus: 0.384 mg/kg, cobalt: 0.594 μg / kg, iron: 0.000797 mg/kg, potassium: 0.00394 mg/kg, calcium 0.005 mg/kg. According to the results, the highest amounts of mineral elements were detected in sesame seeds. The achieved results showed that the method of sesame oil extraction can reduce the mineral elements in the final sesame oils. The amounts of mineral elements in sesame seeds were estimated as P > Ca > K > Mg > Fe > Mn > Co > Ni. The pattern of mineral elements in Ardeh oil was reported as P > Fe > K > Co > Mg > Ni > Mn > Ca. The reduction pattern was reported as P > K > Fe > Ni > Co > Mn > Ca > Mg in refined sesame oil. As can be seen the order of mineral elements was changed in two oil samples and sesame seed. It was shown that except for K and Ca, all mineral elements in ardeh oil were higher than refined sesame oil. As can be seen, the refining process was effectively reduced the metals in oil samples. On the other hand, high amount of mineral elements in sesame seed in comparison to extracted oils could be attributed to lack of processing methods which are present in oil production in both methods.    Conclusion  It should be considered that presence of different metals in vegetable oils could facilitate the oil deterioration and oxidization as well as oil shelf life reduction. Since the most of the sesame lots in Iran are imported, it is necessary to monitor the amount of mineral elements

Survey the Effects of Electron Beam on Chemical Quality of Ostrich Meat

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Ostrich meat is one of the low-fat and healthy samples of red meat. Irradiation is one of the intervention strategies in order to effectively control food-borne pathogens reducing microbial load and increasing the storage time. METHODS: In this study, ostrich meat was treated with 1.5, 3 and 5 kGy electron beam doses and stored at4 ± 1° C for 15 days. Within 5 days after irradiation, chemical and organoleptic changes were evaluated. The amount of total volatile nitrogen (TVN) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) were measured to evaluate the chemical changes. FINDINGS: The lowest amount of TVN for the irradiated sample with a dose of 5 kGy was the amount of 83/9 mg N/100 g meat on the first day and the highest amount of 39.37 mg N/100 g meat related to the control sample was on 15th day. Also, the lowest amount of malondialdehyide in control sample was observed in the first day with amount of 0.13 mg MA/kg meat, and the highest was related to a dose of 5 kGy with amount of 2.01 mg MA/kg meat on 15th day. CONCLUSION: Irradiation significantly reduces the amount of TVN in the irradiated samples. It also increases the amount of thiobarbituric acid in the irradiated samples which has statistically significant direct relationship with the irradiation and during storage. The results show that electron beam irradiation of ostrich meat, increased storage time for at least two weeks at refrigerator without a noticeable change in the organoleptic properties of the meat

Determination of heavy metal in four varieties of soy bean cultivated in Iran

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Heavy metal contamination due to increase use of chemical fertilizers and human activity make it as a global concern. Soybean as a metals bioaccumulator, could cause some problems. Its beneficial properties such as high content of protein and fat make it to be substituted in dietary program. Therefore, it may highlight the importance of heavy metal carry over by soybean and its products. In current study, heavy metal content (Zn, Ni, Pb, Cd and As) of four variety of soybean were investigated. METHODS: Four varieties of soybean which cultivated in Iran, were collected and wet digested. They were put on the hotplate to complete the digestion. Then solution was filtered and fills to exact volume of 25.0ml with distilled water. Metal concentration of samples was analyzed by ICP-OES. FINDINGS: According to our results, as content of all samples were ranged from 0.008 to 0.021mg/kg DW. The highest cadmium content 0.16mg/kg, which was lower than Codex standard (0.2mg/kg). Ni content was reported from 10.22 to 11.21 mg/kg. The maximum Pb level in samples was 0.081 mg/kg, which was lower than allowable limit. Zn content was ranged from 64.10 to 65.3mg/kg. The standard allowable content for Zn is considered 100mg/kg. CONCLUSION: Our study provides that heavy metal content of all samples were below the maximum limits, therefore there is not any concern in soybean contamination in Iran. Because of the industrialization of cities, regular monitoring of soybean is necessar

Molecular typing of Giardia duodenalis in cattle, sheep and goats in an arid area of central Iran

Giardia duodenalis is one of the most common intestinal parasites in humans as well as livestock and wildlife. It is of both public and veterinary health importance in developing nations. A molecular survey of Giardia duodenalis assemblages in ruminants from Yazd Province, Iran was conducted on 484 animal faecal samples collected per rectum from slaughtered ruminants including 192 cattle, 192 sheep and 100 goats from June to November 2017. Species-specific and assemblage-specific PCRs for assemblages A, B and E at the triose phosphate isomerase (tpi) gene were performed, and samples positive for Giardia were confirmed by sequencing. In total, 25 (5.16%) of examined faecal samples including eight cattle (4.2%), twelve sheep (6.2%) and five goats (5%) were infected with G. duodenalis. Assemblage-specific PCR detected G. duodenalis assemblage E in seven faecal samples (six in sheep and one in a goat). Assemblages A and B were not detected. This study provides the first insight into Giardia infection in slaughtered livestock in Iran. Although the prevalence of infection with Giardia in this hot-arid area of Iran was low, educating people about direct contact with livestock such as farmers and abattoirs workers about this zoonotic infection is important