In vitro and in vivo activity of Artemisia sieberi against Trichomonas gallinae

In Iranian folk medicine Artemisia sieberi has been used for treatment of parasite infections in human and animals. The present study was designed to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo effects of A. sieberi essential oil [EO] against Trichomonas gallinae. Trichomonas gallinae were recovered by wet mount method from infected native pigeons. The in vitro assays were accomplished in multi-well plates containing metronidazole [MTZ] as a standard antitrichomonal and EO in final concentrations of 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 micro g/ml of culture medium containing 10[4] parasites. The in vivo assay was performed on 40 experimentally infected pigeons receiving 25 and 50 mg/kg of MTZ and EO for 7 successive days. Gas chromatographic [GC] analysis was performed to reveal chemical constituents of the EO. At 20 micro g/ml, MTZ resulted in no viable trophozoite in culture medium after 24 h incubation period. While the 24 h MIC of EO was 10 micro g/ml. Treatment with EO at dose of 50 mg/kg after 4 days led to full recovery of infected pigeons but for MTZ at the same dose 5 days were spent. Major constituents of EO were alpha-thujone [31.5%] and beta-thujone [11.92%]. Data of the present study introduced A. sieberi as a natural potent antitrichomonal agent effective against T. gallinae

Growth performance parameters in chicken experimental coccidiosis treated with Diclazuril and Clopidol: The need for assessing new anticoccidial resources

BACKGROUND: Coccidiosis is recognized as the parasitic disease that has the greatest economic impact on poultry production. Modern poultry production is largely dependent upon anticoccidials.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to determine and compare the efficacy of two chemical anticoccidials [Clopidol and Diclazuril] on oocyst shedding and their probable effects on growth performance and feed efficiency of broilers in experimental coccidiosis.

METHODS: One hundred and twenty Ross 308 one day old broilers were randomly assigned into 4 groups: CON+, infected with Eimeria mixed oocysts but not medicated; CON-, not infected and not medicated; CLO, infected and medicated with Clopidol; DIC, infected and medicated with Diclazuril. Chickens in all groups except negative control were inoculated by mixed sporulated oocysts of pathogenic Eimeria at the end of the 3rd week of age. Oocyst shedding was counted using a Mc Master counting chamber. Body weights, body weight gains, and feed conversion ratio were determined on weekly basis.

RESULTS: Obtained results showed that Diclazuril was more effective in reducing oocyst shedding than Clopidol. As expected, mean body weight in the positive control group was lower than other groups. But surprisingly, no significant difference was found between Diclazuril or Clopidol treated birds and positive control group, at the end of the experiment. In comparison of weight gain in different treatment groups except for the 4 and 5th week, no significant difference was found in different groups. In the last week of the experiment, difference in weight gain between groups was not significant. According to feed conversion ratio [FCR] results, anticoccidial supplementation did not have any significant effect on improving FCR.

CONCLUSIONS: It is reported that some anticoccidials reduce feed consumption and feed conversion. It seems that neither of the present synthetic anticoccidials is completely satisfactory in controlling coccidiosis economic losses and new strategies are urgently required.

Antiparasitic efficacy of worm wood [Artemisia absinthium] alcoholic extract on Syphacia obvolata

Occurrence of resistance against antiparasitic drugs has made it essential for researchers to find new sources for antiparasitic drugs. This study was performed to determine the efficiency of alcoholic extract of worm wood [Artemisia absinthium] on Syphasia parasite. Artemisia absinthium extract was examined on 3 groups of mice at 2.5%, 5% and 10% concentrations. A group of positive control received pyrantel pamoate, while negative control group was treated by a solution containing no extract. Mice were treated orally 28 days after infection by Syphacia eggs. The efficacy of treatment was determined by Syphacia eggs in the feces. In groups that received either 5% or 10% concentrations of A. absinthium extract or pyrantel pamoate, microscopic examinations of the feces demonstrated no Syphacia eggs. Data obtained from the present study showed that the alcoholic extract of Artemisia absinthium may lead to a decline in the number of Syphacia eggs in the feces with minimal side effects. The extract of this plant can probably be used as a suitable alternative in the treatment of some parasitic diseases

Occurrence of nasal nosocomial myiasis by lucilia sericata [Diptera: Calliphoridae] in north of Iran

We report a case of human nasal nosocomial myiasis in a 69-year-old rural man with numerous live maggots in nostrils. The patient was admitted in Emergency Ward due to dyspnea. After 72 hours the companion of patient discovered larva. The presence of the third instar larva indicated that the infestation was not more than three days. The collected instars were cleared, fixed and morphological studies then were carried out precisely and the larva was identified as Lucilia sericata

First report of Taenia acinonyxi [Ortlopp, 1938] in Acinonyx jubatus venaticus from Iran

The Asian cheetah is known as Iranian panther. A four years old female cheetah was killed in a road accident by a truck in Abbas Abad [Biarjamand] County around Shahrood City in Semnan Province, central part of Iran. Two days after the accident the carcass of animal was autopsied and only five cestodes were obtained from its intestine. In inspection of other organs no other helminth was observed. Cestod samples were fixed and stained by carmine acid. Characterization of the cestodes using morphological standard key, identified the cestodes as Taenia acinonyxi

First report of ancylostoma tubaeforme in persian leopard [panther a pardus saxicolor]

Ancylostoma tubaeforme was originally described as a separate species parasitizing the cat. The adults of A. tubaeforme are 7 to 12 mm long. A. tubaeforme can be differentiated from the adults of A. braziliense and A. ceylanicum by the presence of three teeth. Here we describe the first report of A. tubaeforme in a Persian young female leopard, 2-3 years old, with head and trunk length 120 centimeters, length of tail 98 centimeters and body weight 35 kilograms

First report of intestinal myiasis due to eristalis tenax in Iran

Eristalis tenax, belonging to order Diptera, family Syrphidae seldomly causes intestinal myiasis. Intestinal myiasis caused by E. tenax larvae is a rare manifestation found in both humans and other vertebrate animals. We report a 22-year-old woman presented with this myiasis. The larva in her stool sample was identified as E. tenax related to its typical morphology and authentic clues. Lack of specific control measures in the domestic water supply system was the most probable cause of this infestation

Seroprevalence of neospora caninum infection in rural and industrial cattle in Northern Iran

Neospora caninum is an intracellular parasite which causes abortion in cattle worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of N. caninum in cattle in Babol City, North of Iran. Blood samples were collected from 237 cattle for determining the seroprevalence of N. caninum. A total of 237 serum samples were tested for anti-Neospora antibodies. Serum samples were analyzed for antibodies against N. caninum antigen using a commercial N. caninum ELISA kit. Antibodies to N. caninum were found in 76 of 237 total cattle [32%], 40 of 155 industrial cattle [25.8%] and 36 of 82 rural cattle sera [43.9%] based on ELISA test results. This study is the first report of Neospora infection in this area. Significant difference was observed regarding infection in industrial and rural cattle [P < 0.01]

Dermatitis caused by Simulium [Blackflies] bite

A 32-year-old man was attacked by flies while camping around Khorram Abad, Lorestan Province, western Iran. Pruritic dermatitis with marked edema and considerable discomfort appeared mainly on the lower legs. The flies were identified as Simulium. Simuliids are tiny bloodsucking flies, popularly known as blackflies or buffalo flies, belonging to the dipterous, family Simulidae. They are occurred worldwide, breed in fast-flowing streams, and are a major animal pest

[Infection of river whitefishes [rutilus rutilus] by ligula intestinalis parasite in Aras dam; case series]

A lot of organisms including parasites cause damages to the fishes. Ligulosis is one of the most common parasitic infections and is economically the most important fish diseases in sweet water. This study was performed to introduce the cases of river whitefishes infected by Ligula intestinalis parasite. Case: 50 river whitefishes [Rutilus rutilus], which had been hunted from Aras dam prepared from Babol fish market and transferred to parasitology department of Babol medical school. For more investigation, the samples were kept in 10% formalin. On average most of these fishes had 4 to 5 numbers of plerocercoid larvae that their size was on average 30 +/- 5 centimeters. Conclusion: This parasite has been known to infect aquatic animals especially breeding fishes that many scholars in the world reported it and there are some reports from Iran. The important point is the toxin produced by this parasite, which causes special physiologic side effects in fishes such as infertility, reduction of body weight, pale and etc and this toxin can be harmful for human health