isolation and detection of acanthamoeba keratitis in rural water sources of Arak, Iran

Acanthamoeba species are free-living protozoa that can be isolated from all environments. They can bring about different diseases in healthy individuals and immune suppressed patients, for example, Granulornatous Amoebic Encephalitis [GAE], Acanthamoeba Keratitis [AK], Cutaneous and Nasopharyngeal infections. The aim of this study was to 1 evaluate the Acanthamoeba prevalence in rural water sources of Markazi province. In this cross sectional study, 54 water samples were j collected from 36 villages of Markus province. First, the Samples were filtered 1 by filter paper [watchman 42]. Next, the filtered paper were placed in page I saline solution and centrifuged. Then, the obtained sediment was cultured on non-nutrient agar [NNA] plates overlaid with heat-killed Escherichia colL After that, the provided smear [after 4-7 days] stained with Geimsa. The samples were positive [33; 61.11%] and negative [21; 38.89%] for Acanthamoeba cyst. The best result for isolation of Acanthamoeba cysts was obtained after shaking of filter paper. A high percentage of rural water sources have been contaminated with Acanthamoeba which can be the major factor in causing human infections. Therefore, some effective methods are required to prevent from water sources contamination

[Preventive effect of Iranian green and black tea on diet induced obesity in rats]

Traditional medicine can be considered as a method to reduce dietary obesity. The aim of the present study was to assess the protective effect of Iranian green and black tea on diet induced obesity. Twenty four male Wistar rats [180 +/- 20 g] were divided into four groups. Control group was fed with rat regular diet [4% fat], and the three reminder groups were fed by high fat diet [25% fat]. While control [C] and a high fat group [HF] had ad libitum access to water, the rest high fat groups had free access to drinking black tea [HF+BT] or green tea [HF+GT] instead of water. Eight week later rats were euthanized, weighed and their abdominal fat and organs separated and weighed. While Feed intake showed significant decrease in HF group compared with the control group [99.25 +/- 12.03 vs. 113.59 +/- .14.40 g/day; p<0.05], the levels of energy intake [454.54 +/- 55.09 vs. 405.52 +/- 51.43 kcal/day; p<0.05] and weight showed increase [283.33 +/- 13.84 vs.223.33 +/- 15.11g; p<0.05]. Green and black tea made decrease in body weight gain compared to the HF group [71.67 +/- 1.61g and 57 +/- 12.95 vs. 104.33 +/- 21.75 g; p<0.05]. However, the abdominal fat was just lower in HF+BT group than the HF group [2.90 +/- 0.56 vs. 4.19+.77g; p<0.05]. Consumption of Iranian black and green tea may help to regulate body weight and reduce weight gain induced by high caloric food