[Identification of Fasciola species by PCR-RFLP assay in northern Iran]

Background and Objective: Identification ofFasciola species is important. Fascioliasis is one of the important diseases in animals and humans caused by genus Fasciola. This study was done to determine the identification of Fasciola species with RFLP-PCR in animal liver in Gorgan City, northern Iran

Methods: In this descriptive study, worms were obtained from the livers of infected sheep and cattle in Gorgan slaughterhouse in northern Iran. DNA of worms was extracted with phenol- chloroform method. Fragment of ITS-1 genome was amplified and TasI enzyme was utilized for amplified fragments then 8 samples were sequenced

Results: A total of 49 Fasciola worms were isolated from infected cattle and sheep. The PCR products of all specimens were affected by the TasI enzyme, and F.hepatica species showed two fragments and F.gigantica species indicated three fragments. The enzyme in F.hepatica species showed a fragment of 151 bp and a fragment of 312, but in the F.gigantica, three fragments were 151, 93 and 219 bp. 36 [73.46%] worms were identified as Fasciola gigantica and 13 [26.53%] worms were identified as Fasciola hepatica. Out of the six infected sheep liver, 22 were isolated from the Fasciola worms, 13 [59.1%] of which were F.hepatica and 9 [40.9%] of them were F.gigantica. Out of the six infected cattle liver, 27 Fasciola worms were identified, all of which were identified as Fasciola gigantica [100%]

Conclusion: This study showed that Fasciola gigantica is the dominant species in infected livers of the cattle in Gorgan city

Prevalence of Toxocara spp. eggs in public parks in Tehran City, Iran

The objective of the present research was to determine the frequency of Toxocara spp. eggs in soil samples of public parks, in the city of Tehran, Iran. A total of 600 soil samples were taken from 120 parks between Aprils to November, 2008. Soil samples were collected from 5 distinct sites in the parks. The samples were washed with saline solution and the collected sediment from each park were equally divided and examined by floatation and Petri dish methods for Toxocara eggs. Ten percent were contaminated with Toxocara spp. eggs. The number of observed Toxocara eggs in each microscopic field was varied from 1-3. No significant differences were observed between floatation and Petri dish methods. Our public parks showed a high risk of toxocariasis and the need for preventive studies

Absence of asymptomatic malaria infection in endemic area of Bashagard district, Hormozgan province, Iran

A successful malaria elimination program calls for enough attention to parasite carriers, especially asymptomatic malaria, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of clinical cases. Asymptomatic malaria is an infection that patients do not show any symptom; thus, these patients play critical role in the concept of an elimination program. The current investigation was conducted to evaluate the presence of these cases in Bashagard District, formerly a high malaria transmission area in Hormozgan Province, Iran. Blood samples [n=500] were collected from symptomless individuals residing in Bashagard to evaluate Plasmodium infection by using microscopic, serological and nested-PCR techniques. Regarding the microscopic and nested-PCR analysis, no asymptomatic infection was detected among studied individuals. Totally, 1% of the studied population [5 of 500] had anti PvMSP-119-specific IgG antibody; however, only 0.2% [1 of 500] of the individuals was seropositive to recombinant PfMSP-119, using ELISA. This study showed no asymptomatic malaria infection in the studied population; hence malaria elimination is feasible and can be successfully carried out in this region

Recombinant SAG1 antigen to detect Toxoplasma gondii specific immunoglobulin G in human sera by ELISA test

Although some serological tests for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii-specific immunoglobulin are commercially available, better diagnostic tools are needed. The aim of present study was to evaluate the usefulness of the recombinant Toxoplasma gondii SAG1 antigen for the recognition of toxoplasmosis by ELISA. This study was conducted in Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Centers, Shahid Beheshti University, M.C., Tehran, Iran in 2008-2009. Surface antigen 1 [SAG1], a tachyzoite stage-specific protein, was subcloned into an expression vector and was subsequently transformed into BL21 [DE3] pLyss competent bacterial cells. After inducing expression of the recombinant antigen, the protein product was purified using Ni-affinity chromatography. The immunoreactivity of recombinant SAG1 [rSAG1] was analyzed by SDS-PAGE and western blotting. The reactivity of the rec-SAG1 protein was evaluated using an ELISA. Sensitivity and specificity of the generated recombinant-ELISA [rec-ELISA] compared to a commercially available ELISA [com-ELISA] were 88.4% and 88%, respectively. Recombinant SAG1 produced in E. coli is a promising antigen that can be used in diagnostic assays for the detection of specific antibodies against T. gondii

[Purification and detection of protein band of sheep sarcocystis]

The genus of sarcocystis, zonotic parasites, have two hosts in their life cycle. They have also special importance in industrial veterinary. The serological tests are the best methods for detection of the parasite. This research was planned for isolation of sheep sarcocystis specific protein for using in serological laboratory tests. The infected muscles of sheep carcass were collected from Tehran slaughter house and transferred to our laboratory. The sarcocystis were isolated from the infected muscles and crude antigen was prepared. The crude antigen was fragmented by serial dilution of ammonium sulfate solution and followed by size exclusion chromatography. Crude antigen was electrophoresed by SDS-PAGE and its protein bands were detected by commassi brilliant blue staining. We used different concentrations of ammonium sulfate for precipitation and after by size exclusion chromatography, a 35kDa protein band was separated and observed by SDS-PAGE. The protein band of sheep sarcocystis which can be used as antigen in serological methods was parified and detected