[Prevalence and severity of animal Fasciolosis in six provinces of Iran]

Fasciolosis is one of the most important parasitic disease common among both humans and livestock. Considering the health and economic importance of the disease, an understanding of the epidemiology of Fasciolosis is highly crucial. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and severity of Fasciola infection in animals from different geographical regions of Iran during 2009-10. In this descriptive study, 11100 livers taken from slaughtered sheep and cattle were carefully examined for Fasciola parasites at the six industrial slaughterhouses of East Azerbaijan, Khorasan-Razavi, Khuzestan, Fars, Mazandaran and Markazi provinces. All Fasciola parasites isolated from the livers of infected animals were transferred to the laboratory, and then the parasite species were identified and counted. Finally, the frequency distribution and the severity of infection were analyzed. In this study, 1.10% of the total sheep and cattle slaughtered in six industrial slaughterhouses were found positive for Fasciolosis. The severity of Fasciola in sheep and cattle livers was 7.77 +/- 0.42 and 15.24 +/- 1.78, respectively. Khorasan Razavi and Fars provinces had the highest [14.54 +/- 3.16] and lowest [7.75 +/- 0.79] severity of infection, respectively. Rresults of the study show a reduction in the prevalence and severity of Fasciolosis in sheep and cattle. But considering the importance of the disease and its endemicity, the preventive measures should be taken against the animal and human Fasciolosis in Iran

Molecular identification and differentiation of fasciola isolates using PCR-RFLP method based on internal transcribed spacer [ITS1, 5.8S rDNA, ITS2]

In this study, we used both ITS1 and ITS2 for molecular identification of Fasciola species. The region between 18S and 28S of ribosomal DNA was used in PCR-RFLP method for molecular identification of Fasciola species. Ninety tematodes of Fasciola were collected during abattoir inspection from livers of naturally infected sheep and cattle from Khorasan, East Azerbaijan, and Fars provinces in Iran. After DNA extraction, PCR was performed to amplify region ITS1, 5.8S rDNA, ITS2. To select a suitable restriction enzyme, we sequenced and analyzed the PCR products of F. hepatica and F. gigantica samples from sheep and cattle. Tsp509I fast digest restriction enzyme was selected for RFLP method that caused the separation specifically of Fasciola species. The fragment approximately 1000bp in all of the Fasciola samples was amplified and then digested with the Tsp409I restriction endonuclease. Seventy F. hepatica and 20 F. gigantica were identified of total 90 Fasciola isolates. The new PCR-RFLP assay using Tsp509I restriction enzyme provides a simple, practical, fast, low cost, and reliable method for identification and differentiation of Fasciola practical, fast, low cost, and reliable method for identification and differentiation of Fasciola isolates

[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

Inhibit effect of allium hirtifolium boiss. [Persian shallot] hydroalcoholic extract on the growth of Leishmania infantum in vitro

Antiprotozoal effects of genus Allium plants including garlic and onion have been proven in Aryana L and s since hundreds years ago. In this study, inhibitory effect of persian shallot hydroalcoholic extract on growth of Leishmania infantum was evaluated in vitro. Different concentrations of the extract including 0.01, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 mg/cc in schneider medium were prepared, the parasites were added and counted every day during 7 days after culture. Concentrations between 0.01 - 0.1 mg/cc inhibited the growth of parasites on the third day, but the highest concentration [0.2 mg/cc] inhibited the growth of parasites on the first day. This study proves inhibitory effect of persian shallot hydroalcoholic extract [containing allicin, ajoene and other agents] on Leishmania infantum. For exact evaluation of persian shallot antileishmanian properties, it is necessary to evaluate inhibitory effect of the plant hydroalcoholic extract in vivo