[Effect of climatic factors on canine Lime borreliosis in Iranian Caspian sea littoral provinces]

Lyme borreliosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease caused by spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex. There are no reports on this subject in dogs from Iran. Determining the serologic prevalence level of produced antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex in three Caspian littoral provinces of Iran and studying the effect of climatic risk factors on it are the first aims of this study. During the period from July to September 2009 a seroepidemiological study was conducted on 273 dogs in three Caspian provinces of Guilan, Mazandaran and Golestan, Iran's known habitats of tick [Ixodes ricinus]. In order to study the correlation between infection distribution and climatic factors by geographic information system [GIS], geographic position of seronegative and seropositive dogs was overlaid on climatic maps of Guilan, Mazandaran and Golestan provinces. Multivariate regression model and correlation matrix analyses were used for statistical analysis. From 273 serum samples in the whole studied area, 22 [8.1%] showed antibodies against B. burgdorferi sensu lato complex. The seroprevalence of B. burgdorferi sensu lato in provinces of Guilan, Mazandaran and Golestan were 0.0% [0.91], 2.2% [2.91] and 22% [20.91], respectively. Mean annual temperature had positive and significant correlation with B. burgdorferi sensu lato complex seroprevalence in sampled dogs of the three north provinces [p<0.05]. Regarding the seroprevalence of Lyme borreliosis in dogs of three Caspian provinces of Iran, more attention must be paid to this disease, especially in Golestan province. This is the first study on the role of climatic factors in canine Lyme borreliosis in Iran

Determination of total antioxidant capacity of green teas by the ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay

Green tea is one of the important sources of bioactive compounds which have been used in folk medicine for many centuries. This study aimed to compare in vitro antioxidant power of different types of green tea [Camellia sinensis]. Antioxidant activity of methanolic [50%] extracts of five green tea samples was investigated according to Ferric reducing ability power method. Total phenolic contents were analyzed using a spectrophotometric technique, based on the Folin-ciocalteau reagent, and calculated as gallic acid equivalents per gram dry weight. Total flavonoid and antocyanidin were also investigated according to aluminum chloride and vanillin colorimetric assay respectively. Total antioxidant activity varied from 0.554 +/- 0.042 in Avicen green tea sample to 3.082 +/- 0.150 mmoL Fe[II]/g in Chinas green tea and total phenolic content ranged from the 0.030 +/- 0.001 in Avicen green tea sample to 0.196 +/- 0.012 g gallic acid per gram dry weight in Ahmad green tea. A linear positive relationship existed between the antioxidant activity, total phenolic, flavonoid and antocyanidin content of the tested green tea samples. Green tea samples possess relatively high antioxidant activity due to contribution of phenolic compounds. The present study showed that green tea samples which are more frequently consumed in Iran are strong radical scavengers and can be considered as good sources of natural antioxidants for medicinal and commercial uses