[Application of L-arginine as nitric oxide inducer and indomethacin as prostaglandin inhibitor in Balb/c mice infected with leishmania major MRHO/IR/75/ER]

Leishmaniasis is one of the health problems in. This study is designed to inhibit PG production by Indomethacin and induce NO by L-Arginine precursor in L. major infected Balb/c mice. This was an experimental study. Animals, Male inbred Balb/c mice were used in this study. The total number of animals used in this experiment was 48 Balb/c mice, divided into 6 groups [n =8 mice/group] including Group 1 [naive], Group 2 [L. major + 0.4% Ethanol], Group 3 [L. major + lndomethacin], Group 4 [L. major + DW], Group 5 [L. major + L- Arginine] and Group 6 [L. major + Indomethacin + L-Arginine]. In addition to serum, liver and spleen suspensions were investigated for NO induction by using Griess microassay. The data was analyzed by Analysis of Variances [ANOVA] and Student's t-test using Graph Pad Prism Software. The results indicated that production of NO was inhibited in infected Balb/c mice by L. major as compared with naive animals [Group 1]. INDO as inhibitor PG [Group 2] showed their ability to elevate RNI levels in infect animals. INDO showed anti-leishmanial activity, as these compounds reduced the lesion sizes [P<0.001]. INDO as inhibitor PG [Group 3] showed ability to decrease PG levels in infect animals. Our data may indicate a possible role for L-Arg and INDO as novel drug targets for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis in mouse model

Inhibition of murine systemic leishmaniasis by acetyl salicylic acid via nitric oxide immunomodulation

The purpose of this study was to evaluate antileishmanial effects of ASA via NO pathway in Leishmania major infected Balb/c mice. Moreover, toxicity and pathological consequences of ASA administration were investigated. Balb/c mice were infected with L. major and ASA was inoculated orally after lesion appearance for its ability to modulate NO and to modify Leishmania infection in host, in order to evaluate the effects of NO production on size and lesion macroscopy, delay of lesion formation and proliferation of amastigotes inside macrophages. Liver, spleen, and lymph nodes were also studied as target organs to detect amastigotes. In addition, plasma was investigated for NO induction using Griess microassay. ASA increased NO production in plasma of both na‹ve and Leishmania test groups at the ultimate of the experimental period. A decline was observed in proliferation of amastigotes inside macrophages of test group when compared with control one. ASA reduced lesion size, inhibited Leishmania visceralisation in spleen, lymph node, and decreased hepato/splenomegaly in ASA treated animals. Some antileishmanial effects of ASA by NO-modulation were indicated during systemic leishmaniasis in mice. Despite slight effects on lesion size, ASA decreased parasite visceralization in target organs and declined their proliferation inside macrophages. Therefore, ASA may be indicated to inhibit systemic leishmaniasis via NO pathway in mice model

[ frequency of cryptosporidiosis among gastroenteritic patients in western cities of Mazandaran Province [2007-2009][

Gastroenteritis is caused by parasitic and non-parasitic microorganisms. Cryptosporidiosis is one of the parasitic diseases leading to acute or chronic gastroenteritis caused by Cryptosporidium spp. Self-limiting gastroenteritis is observed in immunocompetent individuals, but in immunocompromised patients it causes a sever disease. High humidity, ecological conditions, water supplies, domestic and industrial animal husbandry and the rate of raining have made the Mazandaran regions as a province for transmission of parasites. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of cryptosporidiosis among gastroenteritic patients in western cities of Mazandaran Province, during 2007-2009. This analytical study was conducted in cities of Chalus, Tonekabon, and Ramsar located in west Mazandaran province, northern Iran. Stool samples from patients with gastroenteritis and healthy individuals were collected, fixed and examined by direct method [DM] for the diagnosis of enteropathogenic and non-pathogenic parasites; acid-fast staining [AFS] and auramine phenol fluorescence [APF] for detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts and analysed using ANOVA and t-ests. The mean prevalence rate of parasitic infections in three cities was 2.38% with the highest rate of infection associated with Giardia lamblia [1.43%], Blastocystis hominis [0.71%], and Entamoeba coli [0.24%], respectively. No Cryptospordium sp. was observed among the test and control groups. Based on our data, a low rate of parasitic infection and also an absence of cryptospordiosis, compared to the previous studies, in western part of Mazandaran province were established. This may be associated with improvements in public health education, water treatment environmental sanitation, and low animal contacts during recent years

In vivo antimalarial effects of iranian flora artemisia khoras-sanica against plasmodium berghei and pharmacochemistry of its natural components

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimalarial effects of Iranian flora Artemisia khorassanica against Plasmodium berghei in vivo and pharmacochemistry of its natural components. The aerial parts of Iranian flora A. khorasanica were collected at flowering stage from Khorassan Province, northeastern Iran in 2008. They were air-dried at room temperature; powder was macerated in methanol and the extract defatted in refrigerator, filtered, diluted with water, then eluted with n-hexane and finally non-polar components were identified through Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectroscopy [GC-MS]. Toxicity of herbal extracts was assessed on naive NMRI mice, and its anti-malarial efficacy was investigated on infected Plasmodium berghei animals. This is the first application on A. khorssanica extract for treatment of murine malaria. The significance of differences was determined by Analysis of Variances [ANOVA] and Student's /-test using Graph Pad Prism Software. The herbal extract was successfully tested in vivo for its anti-plasmodial activity through ar-temisin composition, which is widely used as a standard malaria treatment. Although, this study confirmed less anti-malarial effects of A. khorssanica against murine malaria in vivo, however there are some evidences on reducing pathophysiology by this medication. In complementary assay, major components were detected by GC-MS analysis in herbal extract including chrysanthenone [7.8%], palmitic acid [7.4%] and cis-thujone [5.8%]. The most retention indices of the component are given as n-eicosane, palmitic acid and n-octadecane

[Seroparasitological evaluation of Plasmodium vivax malaria and stability of the anti-plasmodial antibodies in Parsabad, Ardabil province]

Malaria is one of the most important parasitic diseases in the world and a major health problem in some areas of Iran. In addition to endemic areas in the south and south-eastern part of Iran, a new threat of Plasmodium vivax malaria importation emerged from the Parsabad district, which is located in Ardabil province in the north western part of the country. Malaria in this area may have originated from Azerbaijan, Armenia or southern part of Iran. This study has been carried out to clarify seroparasitological results from Indirect Fluorescence Assay [IFA], stability of antiplasmodial antibodies and its comparison with those of confirmed direct microscopy in Parsabad district during 2003-2005. This seroparasitological study has been carried out on 250 samples from malaria infected patients which was previously confirmed by microscopy and treated with routine antimalarial agents, and 250 samples of healthy control with no history of malaria in Parsabad during two years [2003-2005]. Sera of collected blood samples were assessed for the presence of anti-plasmodial antibodies using IFA assay. Statistical analysis was applied by using ANOVA and Students t-tests with Graph Pad Prism. The results of this study indicated that all blood smears of test group were detected as positive by observation of P. vivax by direct microscopy and no positive smears were found among control group. Moreover, no mixed-infection was observed among collected samples. In addition, serological results revealed that 47 cases [19%] from test group and 4 cases [1.6%] from control group had antibodies against P. vivax malaria [P<0.001]. The results of this study demonstrated that the rate of antiplasmodial antibodies is not stable in malaria infected patients which was previously confirmed by microscopy and can not be used for epidemiological evaluation for malaria in this area. Therefore, more investigation is needed for evaluation and detection of the malaria