ABSTRACT
Background and Aim: Ceftriaxone is a cephalosporin derivative used in the treatment of respiratory infections and meningitis. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate ceftriaxone effects on sperm quantity, quality, damages and in vitro fertilization [IVF] in adult mice
Material and Methods: 40 adult male mice were randomly divided into 3 groups as following: control group received intraperitoneal normal saline every day; experimental groups 1 and 2 received 20 mg/kg/day and 50 mg/kg/day of ceftriaxone respectively through intraperitoneal route. Samples were obtained one week and 45 days after treatment Half of the animals in the test groups were analyzed after one week and the other half after 45 days. The sperm parameters including, sperm count, sperm viability, percentages of immature sperms, DNA damages, status of acrosomal enzymes, percentages of zygotes, two cell embryos and blastocysts were evaluated. Data were analyzed by repeated measure test. P<0.05 was considered significant
Results: Ceftriaxone caused a significant reduction [P<0.05] in the total number of the sperms, percentage of viable sperms, increased number of immature sperms and sperms with DNA damage. Use of ceftriaxone in the test groups led to decreased population of zygotes, two cell embryos, blastocysts and increased percentage of arrested embryos compared to the control group
Conclusion: Ceftriaxone decreased sperm fertility potential by affecting the quality and quantity of sperms in mice
ABSTRACT
Babesiosis is an important tickborne disease in the sheep of Iran. A molecular study was carried out in North Khorasan province, Iran in 2010-2011, designed to identify Babesia spp. infection of both sheep and ticks. Ninety sheep from different flocks were clinically examined and blood samples were collected with ixodid ticks. The collected ticks were separated into 82 tick pools and the salivary glands were dissected out in 0.85% [w/v] saline under a stereomicroscope. The blood and the salivary glands were examined using semi-nested PCR. Piroplasm infection was detected in 37 blood smears using microcopic examination while 80 blood samples were piroplasm positive in the first round of semi-nested PCR and Babesia ovis was only detected in 6 [6.6%] of positive samples in the second round of semi-nested PCR. Of the 434 ticks that were collected, the most prevalent species was Rhipicephalus turanicus [69.3%] followed by Hyalomma marginatum turanicum [18.4%], Dermacentor marginatus [6.4%] and Rhipicephalus bursa [5.7%]. One pool of H. m. turanicum salivary glands and one pool of R.turanicus were infected with B. ovis. Based on these results, it is concluded that B.ovis has a low prevalence among the sheep of North Khorasan province and H. m. turanicum and R. turanicus may be the vectors of B.ovis in this area