[Detection of plasmodium vivax by nested PCR in marious areas of western north of Iran]

Malaria is one of the most important parasitic diseases in tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world and kills a large number of People annually. Diagnosis of the disease is preformed by microscopic and molecular methods. This study has been designed for detecting of latent/sub-patent infection caused by plasmodium vivax in individuals with history of vivax malaria without any clinical signs by means of microscopic and molecular methods. In this descriptive study, the blood samples of 38 individuals from Parsabad [Ardabil province] and Kaleiber [East Azarbayejan province] has been collected one year after primary diagnosis of vivax malaria and effective treatment of the diseases, based on the standard country's protocol, as well as upon primary microscopic detection of thin and thick blood smears. They were assessed by Nested-PCR method in Pastor Institute of Iran. All samples were negative by microscopic method; we found one vivax positive case via Nested-PCR. Microscopic examination is a selective and standard method in malaria diagnosis. Due to the probability of existence of latent/sub-patent infection in endemic areas and microscopic misdiagnosis of thin and thick blood smears and epidemiologic importance of malaria diagnosis, the use of molecular methods such as Nested-PCR in individuals with history of vivax malaria to detect any latent/sub/patent infection seems to be beneficial

Prevalence of Linguatula serrata infection in domestic bovids slaughtered in Tabriz abattoir, Iran

Linguatulosis is a rare zoonotic parasitic infection, in which human plays the role of both definitive and intermediate host and can be occasionally infected. This study determines the status of infection in livestock and its potential risk to men in the northwestern province of Azarbaijan-e-Sharghi, Iran. In a cross-sectional study from June 2007 to June 2008, 800 slaughtered animals including 400 cattle and 400 buffaloes from Tabriz abattoir in Azarbaijan-e-Sharghi Province were randomly selected and examined for L. serrata nymphs. After primary macroscopical inspection, all liver and lung samples were cut to small pieces, treated with a tissue digestion method and checked macroscopically and microscopically for free or encapsulated nymphs. Out of 800 animals, 3 [0.38%] were found to be infected with L. serrata nymphs and the prevalence of infection in cattle and buffaloes was determined to be 0.25% and 0.5%, respectively. Conclusion: Linguatula infection occurs as an endemic zoonosis in the study area and has an active transmission life cycle