High occurrence of potentially-pathogenic free-living amoebae in tap water and recreational water sources in South-West Iran

The present study was conducted to evaluate the presence of potentially pathogenic free living amoebae in drinking and recreational water sources in south-western Iran. From 75 collected water samples, 40 samples (53.3%) were positive for free living amoebae identified using morphological tools. Interestingly, all recreational waters in Ilam city included in the present study were positive for Acanthamoeba, Vahlkampfidae and Vermamoeba. Thirty percent of tap water samples in Ahvaz city were also positive for potentially pathogenic Free Living Amoebae. Moreover, the three genera identified in the present study have been previously reported as keratitis causative agents in Iran. The present research highlights the need to improve filtration methods for tap waters and to establish awareness in recreational water sources in Iran, in order to prevent Free Living Amoebae related infections. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the isolation of potentially pathogenic free living amoebae including Acanthamoebae, Vermamoebae and Vahlkampfiids in the South-West of Iran.

Polymerase chain reaction for the detection and differentiation of Marek's disease virus strains MDV-1 and HVT

Marek's disease [MD] is a lymphoproliferative disease of chickens characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of various organs. The present study was an attempt to use polymerase chain reaction [PCR] to optimize a rapid and reliable assay for detection of MDV genome. Detection of serotype I of MDV [MDV-l] was confirmed by presence of a 200 bp DNA fragment as a PCR product. Differentiation of MDV- I and herpesvirus of turkeys [HVT] was also conducted using specific primers from the glycoprotein A [gA] gene and a 388 bp DNA fragment was amplified from HVT genome. The specificity of the test was confirmed by sequencing of PCR products. Results indicate that MDV-l can be diagnosed in clinical samples and inoculated cell cultures which is used for virus isolation. In addition, differentiation between MDV- I and HVT viruses was confirmed based on the size of PCR products. The test proved to be rapid and reliable and be performed as a robust diagnostic test in veterinary diagnostic laboratories

Haemopoietic organs and effect of their ablation on total haemocyte count in lemon-butterfly, Papilio demoleus L.

The haemopoietic organs in Vth instar larvae of P. demoleus are in the form of thin transparent cellular sheets, closely wrapped around the base of each wing-pad. Three cell types viz; prohaemocytes, plasmatocytes and oenocytoids appear to be derived from these organs and their ablation caused a reduction in cell number which, in turn, revealed that the haemocytes in general are derived both from the haemopoietic organs as well as from the circulating blood cells.