Epidemiological study of gastrointestinal helminthes of canids in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province of Iran

Background: The present study was carried out to describe the epidemiological aspects of gastrointestinal helminthic infections of canids in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, the central western part of Iran. Methods: Forty nine canid species including, dogs, jackals, foxes and wolves were included in this study. The contents of their alimentary canal were inspected in order to isolate and identify the parasitic helminthes of this system. To identify the worms, the Soulsbey and Anderson identification key and light microscopy were used. Results: Based on necropsy findings, 35 (71.4(of examined animals were infected with at least one helminth. The prevalence of identified worms was as follows: Mesocestoides lineatus (55.1), Joyeuxiella echinorinchoides (26.5), Taenia hydatigena (12.2), T. multiceps (8.2), T. ovis (2), Dipylidium caninum (2) and Spirura spp. (2). No significant difference was noticed between the sampling areas, age and helminth infection. Only a significant difference was observed for prevalence of T. multiceps in wolf (25), dog (21.4), jackal and fox (0) respectively (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The canids in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari harbor several parasites that some kind of them have zoonotic importance and may pose a threat to community health specially in rural areas

Evaluation of bacterial and fungal contamination in equipments used in ladies and gentleman barbers in Shahrekord, 2009

زمینه و هدف: عفونت های قارچی و باکتریایی از جمله بیماری های واگیردار و شایعی هستند که در همه جا یافت می شوند و آرایشگاه ها به لحاظ عمومی بودن در این میان اهمیت خاصی دارند. این مطالعه با هدف بررسی آرایشگاه های شهرکرد از نظر آلودگی های میکروبی استافیلوکوک آرئوس و قارچ های درماتوفیت انجام شد. روش بررسی: در این تحقیق توصیفی– تحلیلی داده ها از طریق تکمیل چک لیست، نمونه گیری میکروبی و قارچی و انجام تجربیات آزمایشگاهی جمع آوری و به کمک آزمون آماری کای دو تجزیه و تحلیل شد. یافته ها: استافیلوکوک آرئوس عامل 4/12 آلودگی میکروبی بود. در بین آلودگی های قارچی کمتر از 1 قارچ درماتوفیت (میکروسپوروم نانوم)، 2/8 کاندیدا آلبیکانس، 11 پنی سیلیوم، 3/3 رایزوپوس و کمتر از 1 اسکوپولاریوپسیس مشاهده گردید. بین نتایج میکروبی و نوع آرایشگاه و همچنین بین نتایج میکروبی و موقعیت محلی آرایشگاه ارتباط معنی داری وجود نداشت. نتیجه گیری: سطح آلودگی به استافیلوکوک آرئوس و قارچ های درماتوفیت در آرایشگاه های شهرکرد در مقایسه با تحقیق های انجام شده در سایر اماکن عمومی نظیر بیمارستان ها، استخرهای شنا، مجموعه های ورزشی و اتاق عمل کمتر است

Molecular characterization of the strains cause sheep-Hydatid cyst, in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiary province using restriction fragment length polymorphism

چکیده: زمینه و هدف: کیست هیداتیک مرحله لاروی کرم اکینوکوکوس گرانولوزوس از رده سستودهاست که در بدن انسان و تعدادی از پستانداران ایجاد بیماری اکینوکوکوزیس می نماید. استرین های متفاوتی تاکنون از این انگل در دنیا گزارش شده که این تنوع استرینها ممکن است بر اپیدمیولوژی و بیماریزائی کیست هیداتیک اثر بگذارد. هدف از این مطالعه بررسی استرین های ایزوله‌های گوسفندی در استان چهارمحال و بختیاری با استفاده از روش PCR-RFLP (Polymerase Chain Reaction- Restriction Fragment Lengh Polymorphism) بود. روش بررسی: بدین منظور تعداد 30 نمونه کیست هیداتیک با منشاء گوسفندی در سال 1383 از کشتارگاههای سراسر استان جمع آوری گردید. پس از استخراج DNA ژنومی پروتواسکولکسهای کیست هیداتیک با استفاده از روش فنل کلروفرم، ناحیه rDNA-ITS1 (ribosomal DNA-Internal Transcriibed Spacer1) هر کدام از ایزوله ها با استفاده از پرایمرهای (Forward) BDI،s 4 (Reverse) تکثیر گردید. سپس محصولات بدست آمده توسط چهار آنزیم Taq1, HpaII, Rsa1, Alu1 هضم گردید و محصولات PCR و هضم آنزیمی با استفاده از ژل پلی اکریل آمید الکتروفورز و توسط روش نیترات نقره رنگ آمیزی شد. یافته ها: طبق نتایج بدست آمده اندازه قطعه rDNA-ITS1 تکثیر یافته، bp1000 بود. پس از هضم آنزیمی با آنزیمALu1 ، قطعاتی با اندازه bp800 و bp200 با آنزیم RSal قطعاتی با اندازه bp655 و bp 345 و آنزیم HpaII قطعات با اندازه bp700 و bp 300 بدست آمد. با استفاده از آنزیم Taq1 تغییری در اندازه حاصل نشد و قطعه با اندازه bp 1000 در الکتروفورز مشاهده شد. نتیجه گیری: نتایج بدست آمده نشان دادند که سویه گوسفندی کیست هیداتیک غالب در استان چهارمحال و بختیاری ژنوتیپ G1 است که مطابق با سویه شایع ایران و جهان می باشد

Effect of ethanolic and watery extract of aerial parts of stachys lavandulifolia on trichomonas vaginalis, in vitro

Background: Trichomonas vaginalis is the most common curable sexually transmitted disease world wide. In view of increased resistance of the parasite to classical drugs of the metronidazole family, the need for new unrelated agents is increasing. In Charmahal va bakhtiare province Stachys lavandulifolia traditionally used for vaginal infection. Objective: The study evaluates anti trichmonas activity of of ethanolic and watery extract of aerial parts Stachys lavandulifolia. Methods: This study has been carried out as double blind in test and control groups. Etanolic and watery were extracted by hydro distillations. The parasite was isolated from vagina. Sample were collected from vaginal discharges of six patients and cultured in laboratory. Identification were done through direct smear preparation, parasite was added to the 9 test tubes containing metronidazole, etanolic and watery extraction of Stachys lavandulifolia with concentration of (10, 50, 100, 200, 500 and l000μL/ml) order to determine the effect of these concentration within 72 hours. Results: finding suggested that the Trichomonas vaginalis could be alive in TYIS-33, watery and ethanolic extraction within 72 hours. In presence of metronidazole for no alive parasite was detected after 72 hours. Number of parasite in TYIS-33, watery (10, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000μg/ml) and ethanolic extraction (10, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000μg/ml) and ethanol was 1504, 1504, 100, 1304, <100, 577 respectively. Conclusion: Finding demonstrates further studies are required of of Stachys lavandulifolia to evaluate its microbicidal activity against other sexually transmitted infection

Seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies among pregnant women from Chaharmahal and Bakhtyari province using indirect immunoflurescent in 2006-2007

Background and aim: The most serious form of Toxoplasma gondii infection, congenital toxoplasmosis occurs when a non-immune woman is affected during the pregnancy. Thus, having knowledge about Toxoplasma seroprevalence among women during childbearing ages and/or pregnancy is of public health importance. Therefore, this study was performed to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma antibodies during the first trimester of pregnancy in women aged 15-45 years referred to the health centers of the province. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 384 serum samples from pregnant women aged 15-45 years during the first trimester of their pregnancies were examined and tittered for anti-Toxoplasma antibody using Indirect Immunofluorescent Antibody (IFA) method. Using X2 test, the data were analyzed. Results: Total anti-Toxoplasma antibodies were found in 106 women out of 384 (27.6%), with serum levels ranged between 1:20 and 1:2560. The highest rate of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies was found in pregnant women aged 40-45 years (50%) (p<0.05). There was a past history of spontaneous abortion in 29.3% of the sero-positive subjects. Also, 38.5% of the sero-positive women had a history of cat keeping in their house or had a close contact with the animal (p<0.05). There was also a history of lamb meat consumption in 82.2% of sero-positive subjects (p<0.05), while the rate of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies was 65% for raw vegetables consumers. The highest and the lowest rates of anti-Toxoplasma sero-prevalence occurred in Shahrekord (51.9%) and Farsan (6%) districts, respectively. This rate was also 25% and 29.5% for urban and rural areas, respectively. Conclusion: The findings showed that a large proportion of pregnant women from this area are at risk of infection with Toxoplasma and may be infected during next months of their pregnancies or in their further pregnancie

EFFECTS OF EUCALYPTUS CAMALDULENSIS EXRACTS ON TRICHIMONAS VAGINALIS GROWTH IN VITRO

Background: Trichimonas vaginalis is a flagellate protozoon that causes trichomoniasis. Metronidazole which is drug of choice for treatment of this infection has many side effects so the patients are unsatisfied with its using, so it is necessary to seek for alternative drugs. Eucalyptus camaldulensis herb with strong anti-microbial affects is considered as an alternative drug. Objectives: Investigating the effect of Eucalyptus camaldulensis as an alternative drug Trichomonas vaginalis in vitro. Methods: Eucalyptus camaldulensis extraction was prepared using perculasion method. In test tubes containing parasite culture medium different concentrations of the plant extract were added. In other test tubes metronidazole or extract solvent as controls were added. 100 live Trichomonas vaginalis added to each tube and all tubes kept in 37oC and tested for presence of the parasite every 24 hours up to 72 hours. For this purpose 10 microliter of each tube examined under microscope. Results: in tubes with higher concentration of Eucalyptus camaldulensis extract and also in tube containing metronidazole no parasite was observed. In negative control tubes parasite had a normal growth. Conclusion: According to results of this study Eucalyptus camaldulensis extract had strong effects on Trichomonas vaginalis growth. Further investigation is recommended to use this plant as alternative drug for treatment of trichomoniasis

Detection of potentially pathogenic free-living amoebae from the Caspian Sea and hospital ward dust of teaching hospitals in Guilan, Iran

Free-living amoebae (FLA) thrive in diverse environmental conditions. The present study aimed to define the FLA distribution from the Caspian Sea as well as from hospital ward dust from Guilan, Iran. Seawater (20) and hospital ward dust samples (100) were collected from May to June 2018. Seawater samples were vacuum filtered through a 0.45 mu m pore-size membrane. Dust was collected using sterile gauze, washed with sterile distilled water, with washings collected thereafter. Washings were similarly filtered as seawater samples. FLA from the filtered material was cultivated in non-nutrient agar. Molecular analysis was performed by PCR and sequencing using specific primers for Acanthamoeba, Naegleria, and Vermamoeba/Hartmanella. Culture and PCR returned 50 and 65% positivity, respectively, for seawater samples where sequencing revealed Acanthamoeba T2, T5 and T6 genotypes and A. palestinensis and A. lenticulata, as well as N. dobsoni and N. clarki. In addition, 30% amoebic growth and 16% PCR detection were observed from hospital ward dust samples where sequencing revealed Acanthamoeba T2, T4 and T11 genotypes and A. castellanii, A. palestinensis and A. stevensoni as well as N. clarki. For both seawater and dust samples, Acanthamoeba was the dominant isolate. The detection of potentially pathogenic FLA from seawater may pose a threat to the public, while the presence of the same in dust spells threats to both hospital staff and patients, in particular, immunocompromised individuals. Public education, awareness, improved sanitation and hygiene, and the crafting of diagnostic strategies for the early detection of FLA in humans are necessary for the mitigation and management of potential human infection cases

Molecular evaluation of Cryptosporidium spp. among breeding calves of Lorestan province Western Iran

Abstract Background Cryptosporidium spp. are opportunistic intestinal protozoans with global distribution and are of great importance as zoonotic protozoans are common to humans and domestic animals, including cattle and calves. Identification and detection of parasite species using precise methods including molecular methods can be an effective step in treating and controlling parasites. Objectives This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Cryptosporidium among breeding calves of Khorramabad city, Lorestan province, Western Iran, using PCR. Methods The faecal samples were taken from 181 healthy and diarrhoeal calves and after the Ziehl Neelsen Acid‐fast staining and microscopic evaluation, the genomic DNA was extracted for molecular evaluations. To detect Cryptosporidium species, specific primers targeting the SAM‐1 gene of Cryptosporidium and a commercial master mix were used for PCR. Results Out of 181 faecal samples of breeding calves in Khorramabad city, 9 samples (5%) were positive for Cryptosporidium spp. using the PCR method. Statistical analysis of the data showed that there was no significant statistical relationship between Cryptosporidium infection of the calves and variables of age, breed, type of water consumption, clinical signs of diarrhoea, and sampling location, while parasite infection had a significant relationship with calf gender so that all Cryptosporidium positive samples were from male calves (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusions Considering the presence of Cryptosporidium infection, the region's traditional grazing system, and the close relationship between livestock and humans, there is a possibility of human infection in the region. So preventive measures such as periodic animal testing with sensitive and accurate diagnostic techniques including PCR, pharmacological treatment of livestock, water hygiene and the use of industrial grazing instead of traditional grazing to improve the hygiene of food consumed by livestock are recommended