Reproductive effects of dietary soy phytoestrogens, genistein and equol on farmed female beluga, Huso huso

In this study, 54 five-year-old farmed female beluga at stage II of sexual maturation were treated with 0 [control], 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.6 g of dietary soy equol [EQ] and genistein [GE] per each kilogram [kg] of diet during a year. Blood samples were collected and ovarian biopsy was performed quarterly. Results showed that 64.4% of the Huso huso sexually matured at EQ 0.4 g/kg and reached stage IV of sexual maturation. Oocytes diameters increased significantly at all concentrations of EQ and 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 concentrations of GE and reached a maximum [3 +/- 0.2 mm] at 0.4 g/kg EQ concentration at the end of experiment [P<0.05]. Blood plasma testosterone [T] level was 0.3 +/- 0.06 ng/ml at the beginning and reached a maximum [21.04 +/- 1.91 ng/ml] at EQ 0.4 g/kg at the end of the experiment [P<0.05]. 17a-estradiol [E2] levels increased significantly at some concentrations of GE and EQ at the end as compared to the beginning, reaching a maximum [12.6 +/- 1.04 ng/ml] at EQ 0.4 g/kg at the end of the experiment [P<0.05]. 17- hydroxy progesterone [17á-OHP] levels showed no significant difference [P>0.05]. In conclusion, EQ at a 0.4 g/kg concentration showed more powerful positive reproductive effects than other concentrations of EQ and GE in farmed female H. huso. Comparatively, EQ showed more estrogenic effects on ovary development in comparison to GE concentrations. Its use is therefore suggested as an additive to diets to induce ovary development in Huso huso

Parasitic infections [helminth and protozoa] in cases referring to Yazd central laboratory, 2002-2004

Intestinal parasites have world wide prevalence and are considered to be as one of the leading hygienic and economic problems in the world. It can be said that there is nowhere in the world without parasitic infestations. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in patients referring to Yazd Central Laboratory in 2000-2002. The present study was a cross-sectional, analytic and descriptive study including 13388 stool, specimens examined by two methods; Formalin-Ethyl Acetate and direct Method for intestinal parasites and Scotch tape method for Enterobius vermicularis. 13388 samples examined included 6913 women and 6475 men. Parasites were observed in 1151 cases [8.6%] including 618 [53.7%] men and 533 [46.3%] women, respectively. Of these, 98.6% were infected with protozoa and 1.4% with helminths. Giardia lambdia [41.05%], E.coli [27.45%] and Blastocystis hominis [15.51%] were the most common infecting organisms. Helminth infections were few, but the highest frequency was related to Hymenolepis nana and Enterobious vermicularis. Maximum frequency was reported in summer. There was a significant association between stool consistency and infestation by intestinal parasites [P=0.002]. There was a significant relationship with sex, too [P=0.001]. In the present study, the most common parasites were Giardia, E.coli and Blastocystis hominis [higher than five], but the prevalence was less as compared to previous similar studies in other regions, which could be because of the hot and dry weather, better personal hygiene and improved sewage system of Yazd

faunestic study of rodents in Yazd with emphasis on rural reservoirs of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Leishmanioses are important parasitic diseases presenting in three clinical forms; visceral, cutaneous and muco-cutaneous. Some rodents are the reservoir hosts of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis. The disease prevails in many rural areas of Yazd Province. This was the first comprehensive study on the fauna of rodents in Yazd and was conducted to determine the fauna, distribution and abundance of rodents during 2004-2005. The Rodents were collected by 30 Sherman live traps weekly from different parts of Yazd Province. The rodents were identified morphologically in the laboratory. To determine the Leishmanial infection of rodents, two smears of each ear lobe were prepared, fixed and stained by Geimsa and observed under light microscope. A total of 106 rodents were collected and subsequently 6 species were identified as follows: Meriones libycus [52.8%], Rhombomys opimus [20.8%], Mus musculus [12.3%], Tatera indica [7.5%], Nesokia indica [5.7%] and Rattus rattus [0.9%]. Of these 6 species, 8.1% of Meriones libycus and 5.9% of Rhombomys opimus were infected with Leishmania parasites. In the present study, leishmanial infection of Rhombomys opimus and Meriones libycus was determined. These species are the main reservoir hosts of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iran. Control operations are recommended in the hypoendemic and mesoendemic foci of the disease