Antifungal Effects of Thyme, Agastache and Satureja Essential Oils on Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium solani

Growth inhibition of Aspergillus fumigatus,Aspergillus flavus and Fusarum solani exposed to the essential oils including Thyme, Agastache and Satureja were studied. Disc Diffusion Method was used to evaluate the fungal growth inhibitory effects of the essential oils. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC) of the oils were determined and compared with each other. The results showed that all three essential oils examined, had antifungal effects against three fungi species. The MIC data revealed that Thyme oil was the most effective essential oil with the MIC of 62.5 μl ml-1

First molecular detection of Francisella tularensis in turtle (Testudo graeca) and ticks (Hyalomma aegyptium) in Northwest of Iran

Francisella tularensis, causative agent of tularemia, is a contagious zoonotic ailment. This study was aimed to molecularly detect F. tularensis in tortoise blood (n = 100) and ticks (n = 100) collected in the West Azerbaijan province, Iran suing a 16SrRNA gene of the Francisella genus through employment of the Nested-PCR technique. The identified ticks were s Hyalomma aegyptium by morphological analysis. Seven percent (with a 95% CI: 3.5%–13.75%) of animal blood samples yielded positive results for the presence of the Francisella. Meanwhile, the Francisella was identified in tick samples at a rate of fifteen percent (15%) (with a 95% CI: 9%–23%). The samples containing positive results were specifically classified as F. tularensis subsp. holarctica. The samples were taken from ticks belonging to the H. aegyptium species that were gathered in Oshnavieh, southern part of West Azerbaijan province, Iran. This research was aimed to validate the existence of F. tularensis in ticks found within the West Azerbaijan province. Consequently, it is vital to acknowledge the potential of these ticks to transmit the bacteria to both livestock and humans through tick bites in this specific area

Biocontrol of pigeon tick Argas reflexus (Acari: Argasidae) by entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium Anisopliae (Ascomycota: Hypocreales)

The pigeon tick Argas reflexus is a pathogen-transmitting soft tick that typically feeds on pigeons, but can also attack humans causing local and systemic reactions. Chemical control is made difficult due to environmental contamination and resistance development. As a result, there is much interest in increasing the role of other strategies like biological control. In this study, the efficacy of three strains (V245, 685 and 715C) of entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae for biological control of three life stages of pigeon tick A. reflexus including eggs, larvae, engorged and unfed adults was investigated under laboratory conditions. Five concentrations of different strains of M. anisopliae ranging from 10³ to 10(7) conidia/ml were used. All fungal strains significantly decreased hatchability of A. reflexus eggs. Strain V245 was the most effective strain on the mortality of larval stage with nearly 100% mortality at the lowest concentration (10³ conidia/ml) at 10 days post-inoculation. The mortality rate of both engorged and unfed adult ticks were also increased significantly exposed to different conidial concentrations compared to the control groups (P < 0.05) making this fungus a potential biological control agent of pigeon tick reducing the use of chemical acaricides

Positive serum samples used in the study^*.

<p>* Birds were immunized once (D10), twice (B47, B38, B1, B2, PL80) or three times (A17) with a commercial H5N1 vaccine, at four weekly intervals. Two weeks after the last immunization, birds were challenged with H5N1 strains ^a A/chicken/West Java/Sbg-29/2007 or ^b A/Chicken/West Java/PWT-WIJ/2006. Two weeks after the challenge, sera were collected for assay in haemagglutination inhibition test and M2e and tM2e ELISA.</p><p>Positive serum samples used in the study^{<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0108420#nt101" target="_blank">*</a>}.</p

Two-graph receiver operating curve (TG-ROC) analysis of tM2e-MBP ELISA OD for field (vaccinated or non-vaccinated) and challenged (positive) sera.

<p>The cut-off value was chosen to be at 95% sensitivity and 95% specificity.</p

ANOVA and mean comparison by Tukey's method of ELISA OD values of positive, SPF and sera from vaccinated chicks.

<p>* From each positive, vaccinated and SPF groups, three samples were tested in triplicate in both tM2e-MBP and M2e-MBP ELISAs.</p><p>ANOVA and mean comparison by Tukey's method of ELISA OD values of positive, SPF and sera from vaccinated chicks.</p

Boxplot of ODs obtained with tM2e-MBP and M2e-MBP with positive, vaccinated and SPF sera showed in <b>table 2</b>.

<p>The asterisks represent small number of the cases which are far from common ranges of plus and minus standard deviation (±SD).</p

SDS-PAGE analysis of purified tM2e-MBP recombinant protein.

<p>Lane M: Molecular weight markers. Lanes 1 to 7: Fractions of purified recombinant tM2e-MBP protein with molecular weight of 52.9 kD (arrow).</p

Evaluation of tM2e-MBP ELISA using sera from infected (challenged), non-vaccinated, and vaccinated chickens.

<p>ANOVA and mean comparison using Tukey's test highlighted significant results in samples from infected birds compared to negative and vaccinated birds at p = 0.01. ANOVA and Tukey's tests showed statistically higher (p = 0.01) reactivity of infected (positive) compared to vaccinated and (negative) sera.</p