Assessment of antimicrobial resistance of cultivable helicobacter-like organisms in asymptomatic dogs

This study was performed to detect cultivable canine gastric Helicobacter-like organisms [GHLO's] and to evaluate their sensitivity to common antibiotics in two groups of naturally infected dogs [pets and stray dogs]. Gastric samples were taken from the body and antrum of 30 pets and 30 stray dogs. From each part of canine gastric mucosa, four gastroscopic samples were used for impression smear, rapid urease test [RUT], polymerase chain reaction [PCR] and culture examination. 88.5% and 95% of gastric samples were positive for the presence of GHLO's in cytological and PCR examination, respectively. From 60 canine gastric cultures, successful growth happened in 17 cases. Antimicrobial sensitivity test was performed by disk method. All isolates of helicobacters were highly susceptible to polymyxin B,ampicillin, tetracycline, clarithromycin, erythromycin and gentamicin. Two isolated GHLO's were resistant to metronidazole. One strain also was resistant to amoxiclav, ceftriaxone, norfloxacin and oxytetracycline. This matter could show the resistance of some strains ofhelicobacters to different antimicrobials in veterinary medicine. With regards to the results of this study, it is recommended that antibiotic sensitivity test or use of concurrent different antibiotics be tried in the case of treatment resistance

Study of the ACE inhibitory effect of medicinal plants used in Iranian Folk-Medicine as antihypertensive remedy

Angiotensin converting enzyme [ACE] is an exopeptidase which converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II. Angiotensin II causes vasoconstriction and aldosteron secretion and inactivate bradykinin, so ACE has major role on blood pressure regulation. In this study 135 plants used in Persian traditional medicine have been investigated for their angiotensin converting enzyme [ACE] inhibitory activity potential. They were selected on the basis of their usage as antihypertensive, cardiotonics and diuretics. The dried powdered plant material, 1 g was extracted with 10 ml water and ethanol [%96] in ultrasonic bath. The extracts were filtered and concentrated in vacuum except for the water extracts, which were freeze-dried. Test solutions were made by dissolving extract in assay buffer, corresponding to a final concentration of 0.33 mg of crude plant extract in 1 ml test volume. Enzyme assay was performed by HPLC method. Plants exhibiting inhibition levels more then 50% were further tested for the presence of tannins in order to eliminate possible false positives. In total, 52 species out of the 135 [39%] screened, gave more than 50% ACE inhibition. 40 species were found to possess a high ACE inhibiting ability and were low in their tannin content