Heavy metal bioabsorption capacity of intestinal helminths in urban rats

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the capability of helminths to absorb heavy metals in comparison with that of the host tissues. We compared the concentration of cadmium [Cd] and chromium [Cr] in urban rats and in their harboring helminthes -Moniliformis moniliformis, Hymenolepis diminuta and larval stage of Taenia taenaeiformis [Cysticercus fasciolaris]. The heavy metal absorption was evaluated in 1g wet weight of parasites and tissues digested in nitric acid, using Inductivity Coupled Plasma [ICP-OES]. A higher concentration of heavy metals was revealed in the helminths than in the host tissues. Bioconcentration factor [BF= C in parasite/C in tissue] for both Cd and Cr absorption was more than 10-fold higher in M. moniliformis than in the three compared host tissues. The BF of Cd in M. moniliformis compared to the liver, kidney and muscle of the host was 9.16, 14.14 and 17.09, respectively. BF in Cr in the same parasite and the same host tissues ranged from 10.67, 7.06 and 4.6. High level of absorption in H. diminuta was significantly likewise; the individual BF of Cd and Cr in H. diminuta compared to the liver, kidney and muscle of the hosts was 4.95, 5.94 and 4.67 vs. 2.67, 11.56 and 5.59. The mean concentration of Cd and Cr in C. fasciolaris was also significantly higher than that in the rat livers [P<0.007 and P<0.004, respectively]. This study claims that parasites of terrestrial animals exposed to heavy metals can be more accurate indicators than the host tissues as new environmental monitoring agents

Morphometric differentiation between camel and sheep strains of Echinococcus granulosus using computer image analysis system (CIAS)

OBJECTIVE@#To find importance of morphometric criterion of larval rostellar hook of Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) and the easy and reliable method for distinguish sheep and camel strains in epidemiologic studies.@*METHODS@#Larval rostellar hooks (n=1860) of 31 camel and sheep isolates in Iran, which already had been characterized by PCR, were carefully processed by computerized imagime analysis system (CIAS) and acquired data about rostellar hooks were analyzed using software SPSS.@*RESULTS@#Measurement analysis of rostellar hooks [mean length (24.23±3.12) μ m] indicated that length of the large hook was a remarkable parameter for strain differentiation. Data analysis demonstrated that CIAS could be used as a reliable tool to distinguish camel from sheep strains with high sensitivity (95.2%) and specificity (91.5%).@*CONCLUSIONS@#CIAS as a specific, sensitive, economic, fast, and reliable means might be used for differentiation of E. granulosus strains. Although perimeter and area were measured by digital technology, they were not shown as discriminative criterion as total hook length did.

Spatial outline of malaria transmission in Iran

OBJECTIVE@#To conduct for modeling spatial distribution of malaria transmission in Iran.@*METHODS@#Records of all malaria cases from the period 2008-2010 in Iran were retrieved for malaria control department, MOH&ME. Metrological data including annual rainfall, maximum and minimum temperature, relative humidity, altitude, demographic, districts border shapefiles, and NDVI images received from Iranian Climatologic Research Center. Data arranged in ArcGIS.@*RESULTS@#99.65% of malaria transmission cases were focused in southeast part of Iran. These transmissions had statistically correlation with altitude (650 m), maximum (30 °C), minimum (20 °C) and average temperature (25.3 °C). Statistical correlation and overall relationship between NDVI (118.81), relative humidity (⩾45%) and rainfall in southeast area was defined and explained in this study.@*CONCLUSIONS@#According to ecological condition and mentioned cut-off points, predictive map was generated using cokriging method.

A Serological Study on Toxoplasma gondii Infection Among People in South of Tehran, Iran

Although Toxoplasma gondii infection generally shows subclinical courses in adults, it may have severe pathologic effects on the fetus. For a survey of toxoplasmosis in Shahr-e-Rey area, south of Tehran, Iran, we conducted a serological study on 1,187 general populations using indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test. In this cross sectional study, cases were selected randomly by a local primary health care (PHC) system. Blood samples were collected in microcapillary tubes and sera were examined by IFA after centrifugation. It has been shown that 68.3% of cases in all age groups had IFA titer of 1 : 10 and higher, which we consider as positive cases, and the rate for 1 : 400 or over was 30.2%. There was meaningful correlation between anti-Toxoplasma antibody titers and age, sex, and occupation of subjected people (P < 0.05%). The incidence was higher in females and highest in the children age group (10-14 years old). The present study demonstrates high prevalence of Toxoplasma infection among the people in south of Tehran, Iran.

[Parasitological study on Lymnaea palustris and its ecological survey by GIS in Mazandaran province]

Lymnaea palustris was previously found in Mazandaran province but there was not any report about its parasitologic aspects. This study was conducted to finding ecological and Parasitological aspects of snail in Mazandaran province, North of Iran. In this descriptive study, more than 181 locations, were checked, in 36 locations, colonies of the snail were found and 490 snails were collected. After diagnosis of snails as Lymanea palustris, in laboratory, they were crushed and their probable cercaria was checked out by a dissecting microscope. Data were analyzed and processed by ArcGIS 9.2 and Microsoft Office 2003 for descriptive analysis. from 490 snails, 6 cases [1.22%] were infected with trematode larval stage. These cercariae were classified as echinostomaercaria. Optimum temperature for the snails was 15-19 degrees of celsius and optimum dissolved salt [TDS] was 200-400 ppm. Population of colonies were raised in autumn and winter but infected snails were seen in summer. This study could show the ecological pattern, distribution, and population dynamic of the snail. Also the existence of echinostomaercaria which is cercaria, generally belong to the Echinostoma sp, indicates veterinary and parasitological importance of local snails. It is probable these parasite, infect man also. More studies on definitive host and exact species of parasite are proposed