Helminth infections in rattus ratus and rattus norvigicus in Tehran, Iran

The aim of this study was to determine intestinal and liver helminth infections in Rattus rodents in Tehran Iran. Overall, 306 traps were put in 39 different regions in Tehran from 2009 to 2010. Rodents, including R. rattus and R. norvegicus were caught by live-traps. They become unconscious and the spinal cords were cut, afterwards the body was dissected and the stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, and cecum were studied separately. The dominant type and the prevalence rate of parasites in the rodents were determined based on the infected parts of their body. After recognition of the helminthes' types, among the 120 total number of rodents, 39 belonged to males, while among the infected rodents, 57[47.5%] were female and 18[15%] were male. The prevalence of infection in Tehran was 62.5%. Seventy cases [58.33%] of helminth infections were observed in R. rattus and 5 cases [4.16%] were observed in R. norvegicus. The maximum prevalence [15.5%] was seen in the center and east part of Tehran, while the minimum [9.16%] was in the north part of the city. The helminthes types and the corresponding percentages were Hymenolepis nana fraterna [35.8%], Heterakis spumosa [17.5%], Hymenolepis diminuta [7.5%] and Capillaria annulosa [1.6%]. The dominant rodent was Rattus rattus and among the identified helminthes, Hymenolepis diminuta and Hymenolepis nana fraterna are zoonotic ones. The information presented here improves our understanding of the major parasitic infections that rodents harbor and can transmit to human and animal populations in Iran. To prevent infectivity of human, the hazard of the identified zoonotic species needs to be contemplated

vitro study on cytotoxic effects of zno nanoparticles on promastigote and amastigote forms of leishmanta major

Although pentavalent antimony compounds are used as antileish-manial drugs but they are associated with limitations and several adverse complications. Therefore, always effort to find a new and effective treatment is desired. In this study, the effect of ZnO nanoparticles with mean particle size of 20 nanometers [nm] on Leishmania major promastigotes and amastigotes was evaluated. Viability percentage of promastigotes after adding different concentrations of ZnO nanoparticles [30, 60, 90 and 120 microg/ml] to the parasite culture was evaluated by MTT assay. In the flow cytometry study, Annexin V-FITC Apoptosis detection Kit was used to study the induced apoptosis and necrotic effects. IC50 after 24 hours of incubation was 37.8 microg/ml. ZnO nanoparticles exert cytotoxic effects on promastigotes of L major through the induction of apoptosis. A concentration of 120 microg/ml of ZnO nanoparticles induced 93.76% apoptosis in L major after 72 hours. ZnO NPs can induce apoptosis in L major by dose and time-depended manner in vitro condition

Comparison of giemsa staining, intraperitoneal injection and oral administration methods in rat brain infected with toxoplasma gondii

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most common protozoan parasites in humans and animals in all countries of the world. The aim of this study was to detect Toxoplasma parasite in the brain of wild rats in Tehran using smear preparation, Giemsa staining, Intraperitoneal injection and oral administration to Souri mice. Forty rats were collected from different areas of Tehran. Smears were prepared from rat brains on glass slides and stained using Giemsa. In the second method, a cell suspension was prepared from rat brain and was given orally and injected intraperitoneally into Souri mice. In peritoneal method, peritoneum of the mice was examined for parasites. In oral method, the titer of Toxoplasma antibody in sera of Souri mice was determined using Toxoplasma IgG antibody kit and anti-mouse conjugate of Sigma company. All results were negative in Giemsa staining method. In the second method, the results were negative and no parasites were observed in peritoneum of Souri mice. In oral administration method, after ingestion of suspensions by Souri mice and measuring the IgG titer, 50% of them showed a positive titer after one month. In detection of Toxoplasma gondii, the method of smear preparation on glass slides followed by Giemsa staining, and intraperitoneal injection of brain suspensions to Souri mice are of less value in comparison with oral administration of suspensions and determining the titer of IgG in sera of Souri mice

Evaluattion of giardia lamblia genetic differences in khorramabad city and surrounding villages by use of PCR and sequencing

The intestinal protozoa Giardia lamblia is a parasite frequently involved in human parasitic gastroenteritis throughout the world. Transmission of G. lamblia cysts to human occurs mainly via ingestion of contaminated food and water. The aim of this study was to evaluate Giardia lamblia genetic differences in the Khorramabad City and its surrounding villages by means of PCR and sequencing. In this study 30 fecal samples positive for Giardia lamblia were collected from the patients in Khorramabad city and its surrounding villages. The samples were fixed in dichromat 5% after filtration. Before DNA extraction, all samples were washed with PBS solution in order to remove dichromat. For determination of genetic differences sequencing on 5 samples was performed. After DNA extraction, amplification of GDH gene from 24 of 30 samples was performed by PCR, successfully. Alignment of the obtained GDH sequences with reference sequences [gene bank] indicated the presence of only one genotype of G. lamblia; 5 specimens were identified as G. lamblia assemblage A. Assemblage A was the dominant genotype in Khorramabad City and its surrounding villages. Because of limited number of samples in this study, further studies with higher number of samples are recommended

The morphological variations of Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae) in central Iran

OBJECTIVE@#To determine the variations in morphological characters of Culex pipiens complex and identify the species complex.@*METHODS@#A study was carried out from April to October 2009 in Yazd Province, Iran. This study was performed in two randomly selected rural villages in Yazd County using different sampling methods such as larval collection, hand catch, pyrethrum space spray, light trap, and pit shelter collections. The data were analyzed using SPSS software Ver. 16. ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc test was used to compare the ratios of the samples.@*RESULTS@#The average of the DV/D ration was 0.090±0.007 and the range was 0-0.33. The average D/V ratio was 1.07±0.02, with maximum 1.6 and minimum 0.6. The costa and subcosta intersection were observed beyond the bifurcation of R2+3 in most of the specimens. The bifurcations of R2+3 and M1+3 veins were not on one direction in all samples. The range of the R-Cell/R2+3 ratio was 2.42-7.91. The average ratio of cross wing was 2.25±0.04 with a range of 1.36-3.70.@*CONCLUSIONS@#More populations of Culex pipiens from different areas of Iran need to be studied to gain complete information about the taxonomy and ecology of the species.

[Survey of Toxoplasma gondii infection rate in Rattus by ELISA method in Tehran]

Toxoplasmosis infection has spread throughout the world, it is created by the intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. Toxoplasma cause changes in the behavior of the rodents. Rodents play an important role in the life cycle of the Toxoplasma gondii, they are the main infection reservoir of the domestic cats. The purpose of this study was to investigation Toxoplasma infection in the Tehran's Rats. In this study, 150 mice were collected from all 5 regions of Tehran [North, South, East, West, Center] by live traps over 8-months period. For infection detection, anti-rat conjugate was used in ELISA method. The results showed that 36/7 percent of rats in Tehran have Toxoplasma infection. Maximum number of infected rats were found in the South and Central parts of Tehran with 11.7 percent and with minimum of 1.47 percent in the West of Tehran. The extent of infection indicates the importance of these wild rats in the persistence and life cycle this parasite

[Detection and genotyping of human-associated microsporidia in pigeon Columba livia of Tehran in 2010]

Microsporidia are ubiquitous opportunistic pathogens infecting all animal phyla. The purpose of this study was to characterization human-associated microsporidia in pigeons of Tehran by staining and molecular methods. In the year 2010 a total of 147 pigeon's fecal samples were randomly collected from bird stores and public parks of Tehran and screened for the existence of human pathogenic microsporidia by staining method and multiplex/Nested-PCR and RFLP techniques. Nineteen [12.92%] of the studied samples were positive by microscopic examination, and 31 [21.08%] isolates were detected with specific primers. Genotyping based on the ITS regions of the rRNA gene were done for the Entrocytozoon bieneusi, Encephalitozoon intestinalis, Enc. hellem and Enc. cuniculi, respectively. The genotypes of Ent. bieneusi were identical to the D, M and J; genotypes of Enc. hellem were similar to the genotype 1 and 3 and genotypes of Enc. cuniculi were equal to I and II genotypes which previously characterized in human and animal origins. These results revealed that there is no limits to microsporidia transmission between pigeons of Tehran and humans for human infective species. This study points to the hygienic importance of this bird, because feces of pigeons are one of the sources of infection with microsporidia in human and easily pollutes our environment; on the other hand, children and elderly people comprise the principal visitors of public parks and they are the populations at risk for microsporidiosis

[ study of IgG immunoglobolin anti cryptosporidum parvum in infected neonatal BALB/C mice]

Cryptosporidiosis is a parasitic disease that is causing small protozoan genus Cryptosporidum and transmission take place through fecal-oral by direct contact or indirectly through food or drink. The aim of this study was detection of anti-Cryptosporidum parvum Immunoglobulin IgG, in newborn BALB/c infected with C. parvum. Oocysts of C. parvum were obtained from the feces of diarrheic lambs and following purification they were suspended in 2.5% aqueous potassium dichromate solution and stored at 4°C. Forty suckling BALB/c [3-4 days old] were divided in 8 groups [4 case groups and 4 control groups] each group consist of 5 suckling BALB/c. The mice in case groups were infected oraly with 105 C. parvum oocysts, and the mice in control groups served as non-infected. Blood samples were collected at 6, 9, 12 and 16 days post-infection [pi]. Immunoglobulin IgG were extracted by salting out method and confirmed with SDS-PAGE. Antibodies were analyzed by western blot and increased secretion of IgG was confirmed in neonatal mice infected with Cryptosporidum oocysts. Mean OD of Immunoglobulin IgG increased from 0.350 +/- 0.099 to 0.6776 +/- 0.099 in case groups but in control groups the increase was from 0.244 +/- 0.016 to 0.322 +/- 0.16 [P<0.05]. The type of antibody in neonetal mice infected with Cryptosporidum oocysts was IgG which is secreted against external memberane of oocysts. Significant differences in neonatal mice case groups as compared with the control groups were observed

Natural infection of sand files Sergentomyia dentata in Ardebil to Lizard Leishmania

An entomological survey was carried out for Leishmania vector incrimination of sand flies in northwestern Iran. Among other specimens, 358 sand flies belong to the Sergentomyia Genus were tested for leptomonad infection using semi-nested PCR method as well as sequence analysis of ITS-rDNA fragment. Results of semi-nested PCR against kietoplast DNA showed reptile leptomonad infection in two specimens of S.dentata. The ITS2 sequence analysis of the specimens revealed 76% identity with those of Leishmania [sauroleishmania] adleri of Genbank. However, further studies need to clarify the species identity of the leptomonads. Interestingly, blood meal analysis of the sand flies determined an S.sintoni specimen with mammalian hemoglobin. This reptile related sauroleishmania parasites lacks the Lipophosphoglican [LQG] necessary for entrance to human phagocytes cells, and hence are not human pathogen. However, the GlycoInositoPhosphLipid[GIPL] molecules of this parasite reacts with sera of kala-azar patients and may cause false positive scores in sero-epidemiological surveys for kala-azar. Sauroleishmania can be transmitted to human infected bite of some Sergentomyia subgenera that show intermediate characteristics of Phlebtomus Genus. They are able to feed on human blood. This is the first report on presence of L. [sauroleishmania] adleri as well as ingestion of mammalian hemoglobin Sergentomyia sand flies in Iran