Isolation and Genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii Strains in Ovine Aborted Fetuses in Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran

Toxoplasmosis is an important zoonotic disease that can cause abortion in humans and animals. The aim of this study was isolation and subsequent genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii isolates in ovine aborted fetuses. During 2012-2013, 39 ovine aborted fetuses were collected from sheep flocks in Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran. The brain samples were screened for detection of the parasite DNA by nested PCR. The positive brain samples were bioassayed in Webster Swiss mice. The serum samples of mice were examined for T. gondii antibodies by IFAT at 6 weeks post inoculation, and T. gondii cysts were searched in brain tissue samples of seropositive mice. The positive samples were genotyped by using a PCR-RLFP method. Subsequently, GRA6 sequences of isolates were analyzed using a phylogenetic method. The results revealed that T. gondii DNA was detected in 54% (20/37, 95% CI 38.4-69.0%) brain samples of ovine aborted fetuses. In bioassay of mice, only 2 samples were virulent and the mice were killed at 30 days post inoculation, while the others were non-virulent to mice. The size of cysts ranged 7-22 µm. Complete genotyping data for GRA6 locus were observed in 5 of the 20 samples. PCR-RLFP results and phylogenetic analysis revealed that all of the isolated samples were closely related to type I. For the first time, we could genotype and report T. gondii isolates from ovine aborted fetuses in Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran. The results indicate that the T. gondii isolates are genetically related to type I, although most of them were non-virulent for mice.

[Molecular identification of leishmania species causing cutaneous leishmaniasis in Mashhad area, Iran]

Background and Objective: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is an endemic diseases with important public health in Iran. The cinical signs of disease were seen as dry and wet forms. It is essential to distinguish leishmania species in every area for designing control of diseases. The morphology of leishman bodies in each speiecis are very similar and need to sensitive diagnostic method such as PCR to differntiate of them. The present study, a molecular study has been done to identify of leishmania species in Mashhad area from autumn in 2011 to summer in 2013

Methods: Firstly, tissue smears were collected from the lesion of one hundred patients and from the ulcer of 25 paitents were cultured in NNN nutrified with RPMI. The positive samples [tissue smears and culture] were used for DNA extraction and PCR. PCR methods were used in two steps. Firstly a sensitive PCR was used to detect the leishmania genus and secondly, the positive samples were examined with species specific semi-nested - PCR

Results: In first step of PCR, all of sampled were positive for Leishmania spp and in second step Leishmania tropica and L.major were detected in 94% and 6% in positive -PCR amplicon, respectively

Conclusion: Based on the results, Leishmania tropica is more prevalent than L.major in Mashhad area

Epidemiological study of hydatidosis in the dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius) of different regions of Iran

Objective: To determine the prevalence of hydatidosis in dromedaries.Methods:2011. The relationship between host age and the mean number of hydatid cysts, and prevalence and fertility rates was analyzed using chi-square test.Results:438 dromedaries were examined in five regions of Iran from 20 March, 2010 to 19 March, Echinococcus granulosus. Number of cysts was 700 with 72.5% lung cyst. The highest rate of infection was that 54 (40%) of camels was found in the Khorasan Razavi region (in the north-east part of Iran) while the lowest 6 (4.4%) of camels was found in Semnan province. Infection was higher in >15 years age group. The most commonly infected organs were lungs (72.5%) followed by liver (12.6%). Both liver and lungs together constituted 14.8% of infection. A comparison found that hydatid cysts of liver had a higher fertility rate (32.57%) than that of lung (19%); while most of cysts of lung were calcified (24.42%). The mean number of protoscoleces per mL in the lung fertile cysts was higher than that of liver cysts. Fertile or sterile might be due to the different species or genotypes. The mean number of cysts in infected liver and lungs was 1-5 cysts. The intensity of infection increased with age.Conclusions:The results of current study can make a background data for implementing hydatid One hundred and thirty five out of 438 (30.82%) camels harboured hydatid cysts of control programs and warrant the importance of camel in public health.

Fecal and Molecular Survey of Neospora caninum in Farm and Household Dogs in Mashhad Area, Khorasan Province, Iran

Neospora caninum is an important cause of abortion in dairy cattle worldwide. Dog is the definitive host for N. caninum and can infect dairy cattle. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of Neospora oocysts in feces of dogs from dairy farms. A total of 174 fecal samples was collected from 89 farm dogs and 85 household dogs during 2006 and 2008. Fecal samples of dogs were microscopically examined for detecting Hammondia Neospora-like oocysts (HNLO) by Mini Parasep(R)SF fecal parasite concentrator. HNLO were microscopically detected in 4 fecal samples (2.2%). The fecal samples with HNLO were examined by N. caninum-specific PCR. Two of the samples were positive for N. caninum. The 2 positive fecal samples were selected for inoculation to calves. Two inoculated calves were seronegative by ELISA for 4 months post-infection. This is the first report of finding N. caninum DNA in feces of farm dogs in Mashhad area, Iran.