[Frequency of toxocara egg in public parks Shiraz/Iran]

Background and Aims: Toxocariasis or visceral larva migrans syndrome is a disease that appears by attack of extra intestinal animal nematode larvae of Toxocara canis to the human tissues. The present study was performed to evaluate the frequency of Toxocara eggs in public parks of Shiraz /Iran

Methods: A total of 20 parks from different regions of shiraz city were selected, and from different parts of each park [children's play area, living area and four sides of the park] 10 surface soil samples were collected. In the laboratory, after washing and filtration with flotation method, microscopic study was done for parasitic elements

Results: From total of 20 parks, 3 ones [15%] were infected with Toxocara eggs. Microscopic identification of eggs in each field ranged from 1 to 8 eggs. Furthermore, 2 polluted parks were in the south and one was in the North East of the city

Conclusion: Since the soils of some public parks are infected with Toxocara eggs, to reduce the risk of human contamination, preventative programs and more studies are recommended

Knowledge and perceptions of prescribers regarding adherence to standard treatment guidelines for malaria: a comparative cross-sectional study from Pakistan

Despite the availability of standard treatment guidelines for malaria in Pakistan adherence to protocols by prescribers is poor. This descriptive, cross-sectional study aimed to explore the perceptions and knowledge of prescribers in Islamabad and Rawalpindi cities towards adherence to standard treatment guidelines for malaria. A questionnaire was distributed to a random sample of 360 prescribers; 64.7% were satisfied with the available antimalarial drugs and 41.3% agreed that antimalarial drugs should only be prescribed after diagnostic testing. Only half the prescribers had the guidelines available in their health facility. Almost all the prescribers [97.7%] agreed that there was a need for more educational programmes about the guidelines. Most prescribers were unaware of the correct standard treatment regimen for Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax malaria. There were no differences in knowledge between males and females, but prescribers having more experience, practising as general practitioners and working in private health-care facilities possessed significantly better knowledge than their counterparts

attempt to control the major manifestations [abortion and nervous Symptoms] attributed to listeria monocytogenes infection in sheep

A trial to control abortion and nervous symptoms in sheep was carried out through an experiment applied on 2 groups of pregnant ewes. First group included 6 ewes immunized S/C with 2ml suspension of local isolated field living L. monocytogenes [diluted 8X10 [9]/ml] and challenged with 2 ml of the same strain of L. monocytogenes [2xl0 [2]/ml]. This group revealed gradual increase in the antibody titre till delivery using serum agglutination test [SAT] and FLISA. In addition, failure to reisolate L. monocytogenes in the rectal and vaginal swabs and no significant lesions characteristic for L. monocytogenes infection were detected pathologically. The second group [control group] consisted of 3 pregnant ewes, two of which challenged as the first group and the third ewe still alive and delivered normally and its lambs challenged as control group. The antibody titre of the 2 challenged pregnant ewes of this group [one died with nervous symptoms and the other aborted] was not present till challenge and increase somewhat after challenge. Moreover, L. monocytogenes was re isolated from rectal and vaginal swabs and from collected organs of dead ewe and from placenta of aborted one and from foeti. Histopathologically, the dead ewe revealed focal gliaosis, necrosed neurons, neurophagia, endothelial cell hyperplasia and perivascular infiltration by few number of lymphocytes and glia cells in the brain. Necrotic hepatocytes in the liver, follicular depletion in the spleen, exocytosis and focal areas of necrobiotic changes in the uterine epithelium and necrosis in the tips of the villi of the placenta. The foeti of dead and aborted ewes showed foci of coagulative necrosis, hemolysed R.B.C.s and hemosidrosis in the liver. In this experimental work, a recommendation of using live preparation of L. monocytogenes vaccine has afforded a hope in control of listeriosis in pregnant ewes. There is a significant increase in antibody response in the serum of immunized dams and their lambs suggested the role of dam vaccination in protection of neonate against listeriosis