Metazoan parasite community of Capoeta damascina [Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1842], Tigris Basin, Mesopotamian region- a checklist

In this paper, the metazoan parasite community system of Capoeta damascina in the Tigris basin [Mesopotamian region] in the Middle-East is presented. Overall, 54 species have been identified. Between 2005 and 2008, Iranian surveys of Capoeta damascina found a total of 47 metazoan parasites species, most identified to species level. In addition, 6 parasite species from Iraq and 1 species from occupied Palestine have been reported. Among these, 16 species belong to Monogenea [30%], including Dactylogyrus 9, Gyrodactylus 4, Paradiplozoon 1 and Dogielius 2 species. The remaining 70% belong to: Cestoda [7.4%] including Ligula, spp Caryophyllaeus and Coelobothrium 1 species each; Crustacea [5.55%] comprising Lernaea, Argulus Ergasilus 1 species each; Digenea [11.11%] containing Allocreadium spp, Diplostomum, Clinostomum tylodelphis, 1 species each; Acanthocephala [5.55%] 3 species; Nematoda [14%] 8 species; Myxozoa [18%] including Myxobolus with 9 species, Myxidium with 1 species and, Hirudinea 3 species; and at last, Bivalva, Unio as 1 species

Infection with Dactylogyrus spp. among introduced cyprinid fishes and their geographical distribution in Iran

In the present study, we reported infection with eighteen species of the genus Dactylogyrus, belong to the family Dactylogyridae from five breeder fish species, including common carp [Cyprinus carpio], grass carp [Ctenopharyngodon idella], silver carp [Hypophthalmichthys molitrix], big head carp [Hypophthalmichthys nobilis] and black carp [Myelopharyngodon piceus] which introduced and imported to iranian freshwaters from Russia, Romania, Hungary and China over the last 40 years. The infection was also found in Carassius auratus gibelio, it is not known when this fish species was introduced into the country. The Dactylogyrus spp. were as follows: Daclylogyrus achmerovi, D. anchoratus, D. aristichthys, D. baueri, D. dulikeity, D. cienopharyngodonis, D. extensus, D. hypophthalmichthys, D intermedius, D. intermedioides, D lamellotus, D. magnihamotus, D nobilis, D. sahuensis, D. suchengtaii, D taihuensis, D. vastator and D wegeneri. Among these, D. vastator and D. anchoratus infecting common carp and D. lamelIatus infecting grass carp are very harmful and were responsible for high mortalities observed in fry and fingerling production in Iran. Uncontrolled import of live fish into the country can lead to transmission of pathogenic monogeneans or other group of parasites to native fishes, causing a great economical and ecological threat to valuable native fishes. For example, transmission of D. anchoratus from common carp to Barbus sharpeyi, an important native fish species, despite of the high host-specificity of monogeneans, indicates the possibility of transmission of exotic monogenean parasites to native hosts. It is strongly suggested that the risk of introducing exotic pathogens along with importing fish or any other living organism to the country, should be assessed well in advance, in order to protect native species and the ecosystem

Histozoic developmental stages of myxobolus karuni and myxobolus persicus and introduce three new hosts

Survey on developmental stages of Myxobolus karuni and M. persicus in the gills of Barboid fishes from Mezopotamian part of Iran was done. A total 296 fish specimences were examined. Random sampling was carried out during 2002- 2004 from Karoun, Karkheh Rivers and Shadgan Lagoon. The fishes transported alive to the laboratory, their gills were fixed and stained. Myxobolus karuni developed histozoic, the plasmodia were found inside the blood vessel, it developed in the epithelial cells of primery filaments, the spores are large and ellipsoidal in shape. M.persicus starts and finished the plasmodia in epithelial and endothelial of the secondary filaments, the spores are oval in shape. Up to now, the location of infection of few species of gills Myxobolus Spp. are known. According the results of this study Barbus pectoralis, B. barbulusand B. esocinusare new hosts for Myxobolus karuni and M persicus

Parasites of the eyes of fresh and brackish water fishes in Iran

In the present investigation a total of six parasite species, some eye-specific and others non-organ specific parasites were found in the eyes of 48 examined fish species, collected from fresh and brackish waters of Iran during 2004-2006. Ichthyophthirius multifiliis was isolated from the external surface of the eyes of Oncorhynchus mykiss, Gyrodactylus stankovici from Cyprinus carpio and Lernaea cyprinacea from Cyprinus carpio and Hypophthalmichthys molitrix. In the vitreous humor parasite species were Tylodelphys clavata [metacercaria] observed in H. molitrix, Alburnus alburnus, Carassius auratus, Cyprinus carpio, Chondrostoma regium, Ctenopharyngodon idella and Capoeta capoeta, and Ornithodiplostomum sp. [metacercaria] in Aphanius vladykovi. Diplostomum spathaceum [metacercaria] was found in the lens of eyes of 40 out of 48 fish species. Among parasite species identified, Tylodelphys clavata and Ornithodiplostomum sp. are recorded in Iran for the first time. Additionally, the geographical distribution and host range of Diplostomum spathaceum metacercaria is also presented in this study

[Lipoprotein [a] and its relationship with other lipids and lipoproteins in Iranian college students]

Lipoprotein [a] or Lp[a] is a cholesterol-rich particle with atherothrombogenic properties. Plasma level of Lp[a] varies in different populations, however, little data on normal range of Lp[a] lipoprotein among Iranian population is available The aim of this study was to estimate the normal range of Lp[a] and also its relationship with other lipoproteins in a group of Iranian students. This was a cross-sectional descriptive analytical study carried out on 150 college students [88 females and 62 males] aged 19-30 [21.8 +/- 2.3] who were clinically healthy and coming from various regions of Iran. The fasting serum levels of Lp[a], lipids, lipoproteins, apolipoproteins, total cholesterol [TC], triglycerides [TG], high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol [HDL-C], were determined by standard kits. Lp[a] and apo-B100 measurement was performed using electro-immunoassay, and apo-A1 by an immunoturbidimetric method. The data were further analyzed using SPSS, U- and t-tests to compare the variables and also the Pearson correlation test in determination of correlation between Lp[a] and other variables. A p-value of ? 0.05 was considered to be significant. Lp[a] with a mean of 19.46 +/- 19.44 mg/dl, did not showed any significant differences between males [16.33 +/- 18.79 mg/dl] and females [21.41 +/- 19.80 mg/dl]. In addition, no statistically significant correlation was demonstrated between the serum Lp[a] levels and oher variables such as age, lipids, and lipoproteins. A serum Lp[a] level higher than 30 mg/dl was shown in 14% of males, 36.5% of females and 21.5% of the total subjects. The mean serum concentration of Lp[a] in the present study was relatively higher than the values found by most researchers. This might be an acceptable explanation to high incidence of cardiovascular disease in some Iranian populations

[Comparison of fructosamine test with glycated hemoglobin in assessing diabetes]

Optimal glycemic control is generally believed to be essential in patients with diabetes to minimize the long term complications associated with the disease. Measuring the level of glycated hemoglobin is usually performed to assess long term control while evaluation of short term control is achieved by determining the levels of plasma proteins or fructosamine. Regarding the shorter half life of plasma proteins, it is believed that fructosamine test is more sensitive in responding to variations in glycemic condition. To compare fructosamine and glycated hemoglobin tests in assessing glycemic control. This method evaluation study carried out in Yazd center for diabetes in 2003. The study group consisted of 50 diabetic patients who were tested for plasma fructosmine and glycatd hemoglobim levels during two months. Two measurements for fructosamine level [once each month] and one assay for glycatd hemoglobim level [at the end of two months] were performed. Ion exchange chromatography and chlorometric method based on nitro blue tetrazulium reduction were used to measure glycated hemoglobin and fructosamine, respectively. The results were indicative of a highly significant correlation between fructosamine and glycated hemoglobin [r=0.94 p<0.001]. Variation coeifficent among series and days of fructosamine measurement were 2.7 and 5.1 with recovery rate of 96.8%. Based on data found in our study and also in view of lower price, easy performance, high accuracy and precision, it seems that fructosanine to have a high capacity in assessing diabetes control

[Comparison of the efficiency of lovastatin and seed dill extract in reduction of serum lipid levels in rats]

Serum lipid disorders are one of the important risk factors for development of coronary arterial atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of the drug lovastatin and a liquid vegetable extract [dill] on blood plasma lipid levels of rats. In this experimental study, 32 mouse vistar rats weighing 250 +/- 30 grams were included and maintained at 23 +/- 1 degrees Celsius. The rats were divided into 4 groups of 8 rats each. Groups I and II were given normal and high cholesterol diet, while groups III and IV were given high cholesterol diet with either lovastatin or seed dill extract for a period of 3 weeks, respectively. At the end of study, blood samples were taken and plasma lipid levels determined by the manual method. [It is worth mentioning that ultimately 26 rats were included in the study groups]. Results showed that both administration of lovastatin and the seed dill extract led to a significant reduction in plasma levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and LDL/HDL, TG/HDL ratios. There was a significant reduction in the levels of LDL [P<0.001] and also a significant increase in levels of HDL [P<0.001] in both the groups. The effects on plasma triglycerides levels, LDL/HDL and TG/HDL ratios were not significant. Considering the results of the study, seed dill extract affects plasma lipid levels and is more effective in lowering plasma cholesterol and LDL levels as compared to lovastatin

[Measurement of total plasma homocysteine with reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography [RP-HPLC] method without internal standard]

Homocysteine is an amino acid with a free thiol [Sulphydryl] group and is an intermediate formed during the metabolism of methionine to cysteine. Measurement of total plasma Homocysteine may be of value in several clinical conditions including homocysteinuria, atherosclerosis, thrombophilia and folate/vitamin B12 deficiency. The purpose of this study was to measure total plasma Homocysteine using RP-HPLC with fluorescence detection method. Total plasma Homocysteine was measured with reverse-phase HPLC with fluorescence detection after reduction of Homocysteine with tris [2-carboxyetile] phosphine [TCEP] and derivatization of plasma thiols with ammonium 7-fluorobenzo-2-oxa 1,3-diazole-4-sulfonate [SBD-F]. Findings: The limit of detection for Homocysteine was 0.2 micromol/l. The within day coefficient of variation [CV] was 2.67% to 4.56% and the between day coefficient of variation was 5.43% to 8.17%. The mean recovery of Homocysteine was 93% to 103.4%. The results show that the HPLC method with fluorescence detection for measurement of total plasma Homocysteine, is sensitive [The limit of detection 0.2 micromol/l], accurate [CV between 2.67% and 8.17%] and it has acceptable recovery [93% to 103.4%]. Therefore, it is confident method especially for investigate application