[Acanthamoeba Strains genotypes prevalence in water sources in Bojnurd city: short communication]

Background and Aim: Acanthamoeba is a free-living amoebae commonly found in the environmental sources such as soil, water, and dust. This parasite is the causative agent of amoebic keratitis [AK]. The objective of the present study was to investigate the presence of Acanthamoeba genotypes in water sources in Bojnurd City

Materials and Methods: Totally, 50 samples of water were taken from different localities of Bojnurd including agricultural canals, rivers, and swimming pools. Filtration and cultivation were carried out on non-nutrient agar medium [NNA]. PCR analysis was conducted on positive samples. Sequencing was done for 10 PCR products. Genotypes were identified by means of Blast search and homology analysis. The obtained data was analyzed using SPSS software [V:16]

Results: Acanthamoeba amoebae was found in 34 [68%] samples of the water. Genotyping of 10 samples proved to be T4 [100%] genotype

Conclusion: While Acanthamoeba amoebae is found in our surrounding environment which unknowingly contaminates us every day. Thus, to prevent the contamination, hygiene consideration is recommended

Morphometric differentiation between camel and sheep strains of Echinococcus granulosus using computer image analysis system (CIAS)

OBJECTIVE@#To find importance of morphometric criterion of larval rostellar hook of Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) and the easy and reliable method for distinguish sheep and camel strains in epidemiologic studies.@*METHODS@#Larval rostellar hooks (n=1860) of 31 camel and sheep isolates in Iran, which already had been characterized by PCR, were carefully processed by computerized imagime analysis system (CIAS) and acquired data about rostellar hooks were analyzed using software SPSS.@*RESULTS@#Measurement analysis of rostellar hooks [mean length (24.23±3.12) μ m] indicated that length of the large hook was a remarkable parameter for strain differentiation. Data analysis demonstrated that CIAS could be used as a reliable tool to distinguish camel from sheep strains with high sensitivity (95.2%) and specificity (91.5%).@*CONCLUSIONS@#CIAS as a specific, sensitive, economic, fast, and reliable means might be used for differentiation of E. granulosus strains. Although perimeter and area were measured by digital technology, they were not shown as discriminative criterion as total hook length did.

Exploration of mutacin genes I/III and II in Streptococcus mutatis isolated from Iranian patients

Streptococcus mutans, resident in the oral cavity, is able to produce bacteriocins with antimicrobial properties, called mutacins. Aim of this study was to investigate the antagonistic properties of these bacteria isolated from Iranian patients. Antibacterial activities of mutacins were evaluated against S. mutans ATCC 35668 with disc diffusion and genes encoding mutacin types I, II and III was determined by PCR amplification method. Of 32 S. mutans isolated from caries-active and caries-free individuals, 25 strains demonstrated antimicrobial repertoire and 67.2% showed positive genotypes by PCR. This study showed that mutacins of Streptococcus mutans have antagonistic effects on the growth of other bacteria. Extract of this component could be used as antibacterial drug