Nucleotide sequence analysis of the second internal transcribed spacer [ITS2] in hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum in Iran

Ticks are important acarina that infest animals. They are obligatory blood sucker arthropods which economically impact cattle industry by reducing weight gain and production. Moreover, they are important vectors of viral, bacterial, rickettsial and parasitic pathogens infecting humans and animals. In view of the importance of Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum in pathogen transmission, including Theileria lestoquardi in Iran, the accurate identification of this tick is critical. Although many keys are available as aids, morphological identification of tick species such as Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum [Koch, 1844; Hoogstral and Kaiser, 1959] is difficult and expert knowledge is required. False morphological identification at the level of species and subspecies is common, particularly for Hyalomma excavatum complex members which are prevalent in Iran. For example, the high similarity between Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum and Hyalomma anatolicum excavatum is the cause of confusion in the identification of these species. In this study, polymerase chain reaction [PCR] techniques were used for identification of Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum based on analysis of the gene sequence of the Second Internal Transcribed Spacer [ITS2] of this tick. The ITS2 nucleotide sequence of Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum was 963 base pairs [bp] in length and exhibited 93% homo logy with other GenBank registered ITS2 sequences of this subspecies [accession no: FJ593700.1]. The complete ITS2 region sequence was identified in this study and registered in GenBank under accession number HQ123320

Effect of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation on ejection fraction in coronary artery disease patients: a randomized controlled trial

Exercise training as a part of cardiac rehabilitation aims to restore patient with heart disease to health. However, left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] is clinically used as a predictor of long-term prognosis in coronary artery disease [CAD] patients, there is a scarcity of data on the effectiveness of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation on LVEF. To investigate the effectiveness of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation on LVEF in early post-event CAD patients. In a single blinded, randomized controlled trial, post-coronary event CAD patients from the age group of 3575 years, surgically [Coronary artery bypass graft or percutaneous coronary angioplasty] or conservatively treated, were recruited from Golsar Hospital, Iran. Exclusion criteria were high-risk group [AACVPR-99] patients and contraindications to exercise testing and training. Forty-two patients were randomized either into Study or Control. The study group underwent a 12-week structured individually tailored exercise program either in the form of Center-based [CExs] or Home-based [HExs] according to the ACSM-2005 guidelines. The control group only received the usual cardiac care without any exercise training. LVEF was measured before and after 12 weeks of exercise training for all three groups. Differences between and within groups were analyzed using the general linear model, two-way repeated measures at alpha=0.05. Mean age of the subjects was 60.5 +/- 8.9 years. There was a significant increase in LVEF in the study [46.9 +/- 5.9 to 61.5 +/- 5.3] group compared with the control [47.9 +/- 7.0 to 47.6 +/- 6.9] group [P=0.001]. There was no significant difference in changes in LVEF between the HExs and CExs groups [P=1 .0]. A 12-week early [within 1 month post-discharge] structured individually tailored exercise training could significantly improve LVEF in post-event CAD patients

Molecular and pathological study of bovine aborted fetuses and placenta from Neospora caninum infected dairy cattle

The objective of the study was to evaluate the presence of Neospora caninum organisms in the brain of aborted fetuses and placentas of full-term calves born of seropositive cows. During 2006-2007, 12 brains of aborted calves from Neospora seropositive cattle and 7 placentas from seropositive dams giving birth to full-term calves, from four dairy cattle farms located around Tehran province, Iran were examined by Nested-PCR and histopathology techniques. The Nested-PCR demonstrated that all of 12 aborted fetal brain samples and 5 of 7 placentas were infected by N. caninum. Mild to severe placentitis was observed in 5 placentas. Severe hyperemia and perivascular and perineuronal edema revealed in all fetal brain. In 3 out of 12 brains, scattered foci of hemorrhages, neuropilar necrosis and gliosis were present. In addition, nonpurulent encephalitis with severe lymphohistiocytic perivascular cuffing in one case and a small tissue cyst like Neospora caninum cyst in other calf were observed. Our results confirmed the molecular and histopathologic findings of other studies about Neospora caninum infection and it seems to support the hypothesis that Neospora infection is associated with bovine abortion in Iran

first record of linguatula serrata infection of two-humped camel [camelus bactrinus] in Iran

Linguatula serrata, is a cosmopolitan zoonotic parasite. Adult of L. serrrata parasitize the nasopharynx of canids. Consuming raw glandular material of infected intermediate hosts [camel, sheep, cattle, goat, etc.] can infect human. In Iran, two-humped camel is merely found in cold regions [Ardabil and East Azarbijan provinces] and is in danger of extinction. A seven-year-old two-humped male camel, due to car accident injury was sent to slaughterhouse of Tabriz, Iran. In meat inspection practice, the visceral organs were taken out. A small red nodule having a white center was observed at the surface of the left lobe of lung. To study more, the whole of the left lobe of lung was sent to the parasitology laboratory. One nymph of L. serrata was separated from the specimen. This is the first report of infection with L. serrate of two-humped camel in Iran

study on the effects of different temperatures on protein changes in the salivary glands of hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum and boophilus annulatus

It was determined whether ambient temperature influences the proteins produced by salivary glands of Hyalomma anatolicum analolicum and Boophilus annulatus. Unfed adults of H. anatolicum anatolicum and partly fed female adult of B. annulatus were subjected to different temperatures [4, 15, 28 and 42 C] and proteins in soluble denatured salivary gland extracts [SGE] analysed by SDS-PAGE. The authors noticed changes during different temperatures but 29, 55, and 97 KDa protein bands remained unchanged at all temperatures of two species and in B. annulatus 29, 36, 55, 66, 84, 97 and 205 KDa proteins were constant

Evaluation of Eimerian antigens for the serodiagnosis of cyclosporiosis

The performance of an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] for detection of antibodies to Cyclospora cayetanensis in human sera was evaluated by using Eimerian antigens. Accoding to close phylogenetic relationship between C. cayetanensis and Eimerian species, Sporulated oocysts of Eimeria tenella [E.t.s.o] and Eimeria zurnii, [E.z.s.o] were used to purify antigens. Specific lgG antibodies in patients serum quantitatively detected by them. The results show that patients with cyclosporiosis develop an immune response that is detectable using Eimeria antigens. The ELISA assay using Eimeria tenella antigen alone was very sensitive [91.1%] but shows a low specificity [77%], particularly against sera positive for cryptosporidiosis [36%]. On the other hand, bovine Eimeria antigen did not cross-react with Cryptosporidium [100%] but give many false negatives [sensitivity of 56%]. Finally, a combination of both bovine and avian antigens showed a good specificity [85%] without significant loss of sensitivity [91.3%]

New concepts on limiting factors of ovine and caprine malignant theileriosis [OCMT] in Iran

In spite of presence of the vector ticks and susceptible hosts of Ovine Malignant Theileriosis in all parts of Iran, the endemic areas of the disease are restricted to certain foci in the South and center of the country. Finding the reason of this point, this study was conducted in seven experiments to transmit Theileria lestoquardi from carrier sheep to susceptible host by Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum. The carrier sheep were collected from three different areas including Fars, Ham and Tehran provinces and the vector ticks were collected from Fars. Ilam and Urmia. The results showed that the ticks from non-endemic areas could potentially transmit the parasite. Therefore the assumption that the restricted foci of the disease are due to adaptation of the parasite in the endemic areas to the local vector tick is not much valid. It may be concluded that in some areas [non-endemic] the limiting factor is low temperature and in the others, the extreme high temperature that reduce tick ratio per animal. Ovine and Caprine Malignant Theileriosis [OCMT] occurs in certain foci of Iran with a mean annual temperature between 20 - 25°C. The clinical signs and the variation of parasitemia were recorded in the experimentally infected animals

[Serological study on Sarcosystosis in slaughtered buffaloes [Bubalus buba] using IFAT compare with meat inspection finding in Ahvaz abattoir]

Objective: evaluation of IFAT and abattoir methods for identifying and study of buffalo sarcocystosis[Sarcocystis fusijormis]

Samples: a total of 398 serum samples were taken from buffaloes before slaughtering for IFAT studing the rate of sarcocystis infections and the results compared with meat inspection and laboratory finding [macro and micro cyst]

Procedure: before slaughtering, blood samples were taken from jagular vein for serological examination by IFA method. After slaughtering, esophagus, diaphragm, heart and skeletal muscles were examined for macroscopic cyst of sarcocystis .For microscopic cysts, the samples were taken from each one of these tissues for impression smear [Dob smear]. The macro cysts were identified as S.jiusijormis. Bradizoites of this sarcocyst were used as antigen in IFAT and rabbit antibuffalo conjugated serum for this test was prepared in central laboratory of faculty of veterinary medicine, University of Tehran [Dr.Reza Rastegar central laboratory] using standard method

Results: the results showed that macroscopic and microscopic infection rates of animals is 18.6% and 53.5% respectively. In this study, maximum rate of infection include macroscopic and microscopic finding was in eosophagus and minimum in heart muscle. Any significant dfferences were observed in infection rates due to sex. The infection rate in adult group was significantly more than young buEaloes. A significant correlation was observed between antibody titer and the rate of macroscopic and microscopic infection [P<0.05], increasing the antibody titer till 1:640 had positive correlation and more than this titre viceversa. All of slaughtered animals had atleast 1:40 titre and most of them were in 1:640 titer group [25.9%] and the lowest prevalence was in 1:10240 titer [1.5%]

Conclusion: according to the results, the IFAT is a suitable test for studing sarcocystosis in buffaloes and is useful for further studies about b s economically important parasite in Khoozestan province