Detection and identification of Toxoplasma gondii type one infection in sheep aborted fetuses in Qazvin province of Iran

The aim of this study was to apply the nested-PCR and bioassay methods in detection and genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii infection in provided sheep aborted fetus samples from Qazvin Province of Iran. Eighteen sheep aborted fetal samples were studied by nested-PCR-RFLP, histopathological observation and microbiological assay. Bioassay in mice was carried out by inoculating the brain samples intraperitoneally. The results demonstrated the frequency of 66% infected sheep aborted fetal samples with T. gondii type one. Although we could not isolate any parasite from inoculated mice even after three passages, but it was confirmed histopathologically formation of cyst like bodies in prepared mice brain sections. The results of the performed nested-PCR and formation of brain cyst in inoculated mice exhibited that T. gondii type one infection might be considered as one of the major causative agents for abortion in ewes

Isolation, cloning and expression of the brucella melitensis Omp31 gene

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease transmitted to humans either from animals or from their products. Although brucellosis can be found worldwide, the Mediterranean Basin, South and Central America, Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Middle East have currently been listed as high-risk regions. The genus Brucella is classified in at least nine species. Brucella melitensis is the global pathogenic species of Brucella. The outer membrane protein 31, [Omp31] from B. melitensis is considered as a protective immunogen and an important candidate vaccine. Contamination of purified Omp31 protein by biochemical methods has made some restrictions in practical experiments. In this study, the Omp31 coding gene of B. melitensis Rev 1 strain was inserted in pET32b[+] plasmid with extra His-tag sequence. The integrity of the constructed plasmid was confirmed using restriction enzyme mapping and sequencing. Omp31 was expressed after induction with IPTG in Escherichia coli BL21. Recombinant Omp31 [rOmp31] was purified immunoblotting confirmed immunereactivity of rOmp31. Obtained rOmp31 could be useful as a research experimental tool in protection assays to find its potential as a vaccine candidate