Status of human cystic echinococcosis based on hospital records in Mazandaran Province: A first registry-based evidence

Background: Human cystic echinococcosis, as an emerging neglected parasitic disease, is caused by tapeworms of the genus Echinococcus spp. Because of the medical and economic importance, this study aims to review the epidemiology and clinical features of hydatidosis in patients admitted to medical and surgical wards in three referral teaching hospitals over 15 years in Mazandaran Province, northern Iran. Methods: Data were collected from hospital records that were accessible via the hospital information system (HIS) between 2005 and 2019 (15 years).The demographic information (age, sex, living area, and occupation), dog contact, number of the cysts, types of organs involved, and history of disease recurrence were assessed. Results: One hundred twenty-one patients with human cystic echinococcosis (CE) were involved in the study, from whom 58 patients (47.93%) were male and 63 (52.07%) were female. The majority of patients were rural residents (64.46%) and also housewife (28.10%). Based on the results, only about 16.53% of the patients had history of close contacts with dogs. The liver was the organ involved in the most cases of CE. There were statistically significant differences between residence, occupation, history of close contacts with dogs, type of organs involved, number of cysts and history of disease recurrence (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Our data provides valuable registry-based information about CE in an endemic region. The data highlights that most patients lived in rural areas and were housewives. Additionally, they had a low rate of disease recurrence but a high rate of close contact with dogs. Moreover, further monitoring on registry-based program and strengthening the HIS in the provincial hospitals in the studied area are required

Antiparasitic Effects of Heracleum persicum and Foeniculum vulgare (Fruit) Essential Oils on Experimental Toxoplasmosis (In Vitro and In Vivo)

Background and purpose: There are few treatment options available for treatment of toxoplasmosis and effective drugs have serious toxic effects. In this study, the in vivo and in vitro anti-toxoplasma activities of Heracleum persicum and Foeniculum vulgare fruits essential oils were investigated. Materials and methods: In vitro, Vero cells were incubated with different concentrations of essential oils or pyrimethamine (positive control) and the cellular viability was determined. Next, Vero cells were infected with T. gondii (RH strain) and treated with agents. Then, the CC50, IC50, and selectivity index (SI) were calculated. Moreover, in vivo, the effect of oils on survival times of Balb/c mice infected with T. gondii were determined. Results: In vitro results showed that the oils exhibited less cell toxicity than pyrimethamine. The selective index was 2.94, 6.96, and 3.06 for Heracleum persicum, Foeniculum vulgare, and pyrimethamine, respectively. Also, the infected mice treated with F. vulgare-pyrimethamine showed a better survival rate than others (P<0.05). Conclusion: The H. persicum and F. vulgare essential oils showed anti-toxoplasmic activity in vitro and in vivo, but, combination therapy with F. vulgare and pyrimethamine showed a better survival time in mice infected with T. gondii. Therefore, F. vulgare may be a useful candidate in treatment of Toxoplasmosis. However, further studies are needed to investigate the fractions of this plant against T. gondii