ABSTRACT
Canine visceral leishmaniasis [CVL] is a systemic disease with a high mortality rate, caused by a diphasic protozoan parasite, Leishmania infantum/chagasi in the world. The objective of the present study was to determine the presence of CVL in the city and suburbs of Kerman, using a range of serological, histopathological and molecular methods. Blood samples were taken from 80 clinically symptomatic stray dogs All the collected blood samples were tested by direct agglutination test [DAT] to detect the anti-Leishmania antibodies in dogs, using a cut-off value of >/= 1:320. Pathological specimens including spleen, liver and lymph nodes were prepared for paraffin blocks, sectioning, staining and final microscopic examination in the pathology laboratory. PCR amplification of kDNA from 9 samples of DAT positive stray dogs was studied. The anti-Leishmania antibody was detected in 9 dogs [11.25%] of the total 80 studied dogs. No significant difference was found between VL infection and gender. In contrast, there was a significant difference between seropositivity and age [P<0.05]. Pathological samples showed changes including hyperplasia of infected macrophages and inflammatory cells that occupied sinusoids and splenic cords. Among the samples which was characterized by PCR, only one specimen revealed to be mixed infection between L. infantum and L. tropica. The results revealed a high prevalence of L. infantum infection in stray dogs in Kerman. This kind of information is needed for implementation of future control programs
ABSTRACT
In this study, the hepatoprotective effect of the methanol extract of aerial parts [shoot] from Otostegia persica Boiss [Golder] was investigated against the carbon tetrachloride [CCl[4]]-induced acute hepatotoxicity in male rats. Liver damage was induced through the oral administration of 50% CCl[4] in liquid paraffin [2.5 mL/Kg bw, per os] 60 min after the administration of the methanol extract of O. persica shoot [in 200, 300, 400 mg/Kg bw doses] and assessed using biochemical parameters [plasma and liver tissue malondialdehyde [MDA], transaminase enzyme levels in plasma [aspartate transaminase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT]] and liver glutathione [GSH] levels]. Results show that the methanol extract of O. persica shoot is active at 300 mg/Kg [per os] and it possess remarkable antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities. Additionally, histopathological studies verified the effectiveness of this dose of extract in acute liver damage prevention