First Report of Intestinal Myiasis Due To Eristalis tenax in Iran

Eristalis tenax, belonging to order Diptera, family Syrphidae seldomly causes intestinal myiasis. Intestinal myiasis caused by E. tenax larvae is a rare manifestation found in both humans and other vertebrate animals. We report a 22-year-old woman presented with this myiasis. The larva in her stool sample was identified as E. tenax related to its typical morphology and authentic clues. Lack of specific control measures in the domestic water supply system was the most probable cause of this infestation

First report of Ancylostoma tubaeforme in Persian Leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolor)

Ancylostoma tubaeforme was originally described as a separate species parasitizing the cat. The adults of A. tubaeforme are 7 to 12 mm long. A. tubaeforme can be differentiated from the adults of A. braziliense and A. ceylanicum by the presence of three teeth. Here we describe the first report of A. tubaeforme in a Persian young female leopard, 2–3 years old, with head and trunk length 120 centimeters, length of tail 98 centimeters and body weight 35 kilograms

Evaluation of the Anticestode and Antinematode Effects of the Methanol Extract of Ferula Asafoetida on Experimentally Infected Rats

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Synthetic antiparasitic medications are often associated with drug resistance and adverse side effects. In traditional medicine, Ferula asafoetida has been widely used in the treatment of parasitic infections, and various studies have confirmed the anti-leishmanial, anti-Giardia, and antifungal properties of this medicinal herb. This study aimed to evaluate the antiparasitic effects of the methanol extract of asafoetida. METHODS: This experimental study was conducted on 100 male rats equally divided into 10 groups. To induce infection, animals were fed the eggs of nematode Syphacia obvelata and cestode Hymenolepis nana via gavage. Animals in groups one and two were considered as control subjects for cestode and nematode, respectively and received no medications. The third group was administered with a standard anticestodal dose of praziquantel (25 mg/kg), and the fourth group was administered with a standard antinematodal dose of piperazine (20 mg/kg). Infected animals in experimental groups five, six and seven received treatment with 2.5%, 5% and 10% concentrations of asafoetida methanol extract, respectively. Moreover, induction of nematode infection was performed on the animals of experimental groups 8, 9 and 10, which were administered with 2.5%, 5% and 10% concentrations of asafoetida methanol extract, respectively. Treatment of the animals continued for two weeks. Number of parasite eggs in the fecal samples was determined at the end of the first and second week of treatment. After the intervention, total number of the intestinal parasites was calculated and assessed in the experimental groups. FINDINGS: In the first week of treatment, no statistically significant difference was observed between the number of Syphacia obvelata eggs in rats administered with the methanol extract of asafoetida even at the highest concentration compared to control subjects (166.4±3.11 vs. 235±9.5). Similarly, treatment of nematode infection with the methanol extract of asafoetida could not decrease the number of eggs and parasites by the end of the second week of treatment (P>0.05). However, rats with cestode infection receiving different concentrations of asafoetida extract showed a significant reduction in the number of eggs and parasites compared to control subjects (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, the methanol extract of Ferula asafoetida had no antinematode properties in vitro, while it exhibited anticestode effects on laboratory animals with induced parasitic infectio

Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum Infection in Rural and Industrial Cattle in Northern Iran

Background: Neospora caninum is an intracellular parasite which causes abortion in cattle worldwide.  The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of N. caninum in cattle in Babol City, North of Iran."nMethods: Blood samples were collected from 237 cattle for determining the seroprevalence of N.  caninum.  A total of 237 serum samples were tested for anti-Neospora antibodies.  Serum samples were analyzed for antibodies against N. caninum antigen using a commercial N. caninum ELISA kit."nResults: Antibodies to N. caninum were found in 76 of 237 total cattle (32%), 40 of 155 industrial cat­tle (25. 8%) and 36 of 82 rural cattle sera (43. 9%) based on ELISA test results."nConclusion: This study is the first report of Neospora infection in this area.  Significant difference was observed regarding infection in industrial and rural cattle (P<0. 01)

First Report of Taenia Acinonyxi (Ortlopp, 1938) in Acinonyx Jubatus Venaticus from Iran

The Asian cheetah is known as Iranian panther. A four years old female cheetah was killed in a road accident by a truck in Abbas Abad (Biarjamand) County around Shahrood City in Sem­nan Province, central part of Iran. Two days after the accident the carcass of animal was autopsied and only five cestodes were obtained from its intestine. In inspection of other or­gans no other helminth was observed. Cestod samples were fixed and stained by carmine acid. Characterization of the cestodes using morphological standard key, identified the ces­todes as Taenia acinonyxi