Seroprevalence of and Risk Factors for Toxoplasma gondii among Pregnant Women in Abyek Township of Qazvin Province , Iran (2013)

 Objective: Toxoplasmosis is an important disease which is caused by the coccidian parasite Toxoplasma gondii. The aim of this study was to determineseroprevalence of and risk factors for T. gondii among pregnant women in Abyek township of Qazvin province by enzyme-linked immunosorbentassay method.Methods: Blood samples were taken from 200 pregnant women referred to the health centers of Abyek township. Immunoglobulin M (IgM)and IgGtiters and effects of some factors on incidence of the disease were evaluated. The collected data were statistically analyzed with SPSS 17 using Chisquaretest.Results: Anti toxoplasma IgM and IgG were positive in 2% and 29% respectively. Seropositive subjects were more frequently seen in women withage >30 years compared to younger women. No significant relationship was found between the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection and level ofeducation, residence area, history of abortion and gestational age.Conclusion: It was indicative of having a latent infection due to the previous exposure to toxoplasma parasite in this region.Keywords: Toxoplasma gondii, Prevalence, Pregnant women, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Immunoglobulin M

Cloning of a Recombinant Plasmid Encoding Thiol-Specific Antioxidant Antigen (TSA) Gene of Leishmania major and Expression in the Chinese Hamster Ovary Cell Line

Background: TSA (thiol-specific antioxidant antigen) is the immune-dominant antigen of Leishmania major and is considered to be the most promising candidate molecule for a recombinant or DNA vaccine against leishmaniasis. The aim of the present work was to express a plasmid containing the TSA gene in eukaryotic cells. Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted, and the TSA gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR product was cloned into the pTZ57R/T vector, followed by subcloning into the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3 (EcoRI and HindIII sites). The recombinant plasmid was characterised by restriction digest and PCR. Eukaryotic Chinese hamster ovary cells were transfected with the plasmid containing the TSA gene. Expression of the L. major TSA gene was confirmed by sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting. Results: The plasmid containing the TSA gene was successfully expressed, as demonstrated by a band of 22.1 kDa on Western blots. Conclusion: The plasmid containing the TSA gene can be expressed in a eukaryotic cell line. Thus, the recombinant plasmid may potentially be used as a DNA vaccine in animal models

In vitro and in vivo susceptibility of Leishmania major to some medicinal plants

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of some medicinal plants and systemic glucantime in a comparative manner against the causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis both in vitro and in BALB/c mice. Methods: For in vivo testing, inbred mice were challenged with Leishmania major parasites and the resultant ulcers were treated with extract based-ointments applied topically two times per day for a period of 20 days. A group of 56 mice were randomly divided into 7 subgroups. The control group received the ointment void of extracts, whereas the reference group received glucantime only. The efficacy of treatments was evaluated by measuring ulcer diameter, parasite burden and NO production. Results: Our results indicated that plant extract based-ointments were effective in reducing ulcer size and parasite burden in spleens, but their effects did not differ significantly from that of glucantime. The plant extracts tested in this study were able to increase NO production that helped parasite suppression. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the tested plant extracts are effective against Leishmania major both during in vitro and in vivo experiments, but further researches are required to recommend a potential plant extract as an alternative drug

An In-vitro Comparison of Force Loss of Orthodontic Non-Latex Elastics.

The amount and consistency of the applied forces to the tooth are important factors in tooth movements; therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the initial force and the force loss of three brands of elastics in 24 hours.In this in-vitro study sixty non-latex elastics (3/16 medium) from three companies (Forestadent, Dentaurum and Ortho Technology) were randomly selected. Two static tests were performed, the first in a dry environment to evaluate the initial force and the other performed in a wet environment (artificial saliva) to evaluate the force loss in 24 hours. The Universal testing machine measured the forces after stretching the elastics to three times the lumen diameter. Data were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA, One-way ANOVA, Tukey-HSD, Paired samples test, and one sample test.The difference between the brands was significant (p=0.002). Force loss was observed in all samples; 4-7.5% force loss occurred after one hour and 19-38% force loss occurred after 24 hours. The average initial force of Forestadent and Ortho Technology was significantly higher than marketed forces (pDentaurum>Ortho-Technology. According to the initial force and force loss percentage it is suggested to replace the non-latex elastics several times a day

Comparison of Sensitivity of Sucrose Gradient, Wet Mount and Formalin - Ether in Detecting Protozoan Giardia lamblia in Stool Specimens of BALB/c Mice

Giardia lamblia is an intestinal protozoan parasite; hence, to diagnose the cyst, it is necessary to find a reliable, simpler and less expensive diagnostic method in the laboratory. Therefore, in order to choose a more sensitive, cheaper and applicable diagnostic method in the laboratory ; three methods, namely, sucrose gradient, wet mount and formalin-ether in fecal samples from BALB/c mice infected with the protozoan Giardia, were studied. In this diagnostic laboratory study, 200 stool samples from infected mice (BALB/c) with Giardia were studied. Stool specimens from three direct smear method, formalin-ether and sucrose were prepared. A total of 200 specimens for each method were prepared and examined by microscope. Furthermore, it enhanced the accuracy check at each stage; the feces of healthy mice were used as negative controls for comparison. Stool examination revealed G. lamblia cysts in mice infected BALB/c from 200 samples for each method. In the direct method, formalin - ether and sucrose gradient, 101 (55.00%), 166 (83.00%) and 180 (94.00%) cases were positive respectively. Therefore, the sucrose method has demonstrated the highest sensitivity (94.00%), compared to other methods. According to the results of this study, sucrose is a sensitive method for high-throughput and cost-effective diagnostic method, than previous methods. Therefore, sucrose method is suggested suitable and can be used in place of formalin-ether. Given their potency, the sucrose gradient may be recommended to undergo futher studies

Antimalarial effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of Allium paradoxum in vitro and in vivo

Malaria still is the most fatal parasitic disease affecting 50% of the world's population. Although annual deaths attributed to malaria has reduced, crucial importance of its prevention and treatment remains a priority for health care systems and researchers. The worldwide increase in resistance to most common antimalarial drugs such as chloroquine, their unpleasant side effects and low efficiencies persuade researchers to prioritize finding alternative drugs including herbal medication from plant roots. The present study aimed to examine in vitro and in vivo effects of hydroalcoholic extract of herbal medicinal plant, on growth rate in and The cytotoxicity assay was performed for hydroalcoholic extract of . The 3D7 strain of was cultured. The IC assay and enzymatic activity of lactate dehydrogenase were performed. BALB/c mice were infected with in vivo Toxicity and histopathological changes in the tissues of liver and kidney were also examined. The highest efficacy of extract was observed at 80 μg/mL in culture resulting in 60.43% growth inhibition compared to control groups. The significantly highest parasite growth inhibition with 88.71% was seen in the mice infected with when administered with 400 mg/kg extract compared to control groups. No significant changes in the liver and kidney cells were observed between experimental and control groups. The study showed that extract exhibited significant antimalarial properties in vitro on and in vivo in mice infected with There was no significant toxicity in the liver and kidney of the treated mice. [Abstract copyright: © Indian Society for Parasitology 2021.

Parasitic helminth infections of dogs, wolves, foxes, and golden jackals in Mazandaran Province, North of Iran

Background and Aim: There is a large amount of information on intestinal parasites in stray dogs and golden jackals (Canis aureus) in Mazandaran Province, Iran. However, there is little information about foxes and wolves, which have a potential role in the spread of dangerous parasitic diseases, such as echinococcosis and toxocariasis. The aim of the present study was to identify the genus or species of parasitic worms in stool samples obtained from carnivores in Mazandaran Province, Iran, from August 2017 to April 2018. Materials and Methods: A total of 274 fecal samples were collected from carnivores, including dog, fox, wolf, and C. aureus in three areas of Mazandaran Province, Iran. All specimens were examined by centrifugal fecal flotation using a solution of Sheather's sugar to detect helminths eggs. Then, all samples were assessed using a light microscope. Data analysis was performed by SPSS version. 18 (Chicago, IL, USA). Results: In this study, seven genera of helminths were observed, including Ancylostoma, Uncinaria, Toxocara, Dipylidium, Toxascaris, Taenia, and Spirocerca. The prevalence of helminth infections was 97.7% (127 out of 130), 56.7% (51 out of 90), 51.4% (18 out of 35), and 52.6% (10 out of 19), among dogs, C. aureus, foxes, and wolves, respectively. The highest prevalence of Ancylostoma and Toxocara infections occurred in the eastern and central areas of the province (42.1% and 35.7%, respectively). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, the infection with intestinal zoonotic helminths in carnivores was an important public health factor in Mazandaran. Therefore, these infections can be potentially harmful to humans and other animals