Alveolar echinococcosis infection in a monkey [ateles geoffroyi] in Mashhad, Iran

Alveolar echinococcosis [AE], which is caused by ingestion of eggs of the fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis, is the most potentially lethal parasitic infection because of its tendency to invade and proliferate in the liver and the difficulty in treatment. This article describes a case of alveolar echinococcosis found in Ateles geoffroyi in Mashhad, Iran. The cysts were characterized as an alveolar structure, composed of numerous small vesicles in liver, abdominal cavity, retroperitoneum and lungs. A characteristic feature of these vesicles was its exogenous tumor-like proliferation. These cysts were filled with numerous protoscoleces suggesting a potential role of this monkey in cycle of transmission. Up to now, this is probably the first report of alveolar echinococcosis in A. geoffroyi in the world

study on gastrointestinal helminths of camels in Mashhad abattoir, Iran

Abattoir survey was carried out to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths and the seasonal fluctuations in intestinal worm burdens and faecal worm egg counts of camel in Khorasan Razavi province in the northeast of Iran. A total of 306 dromedaries [Camelus dromedarius] in the Mashhad abattoir, in the northeast of Iran and the capital of Khorasan province were examined between October 2007 and September 2008. By coproscopy examinations, 75.1% of dromedaries were found to be harboring different types of nematod eggs. Faecal flotation revealed the presence of Nematodirus, Strongyloides, Trishuris, Marshallagia, stongyle type nematode eggs. In addition, gastrointestinal tracts of 50 camels slaughtered in the Mashhad abattoir were used for identification and count of helminths. Postmortem examinations revealed that the prevalence of helminths were Trichostrongylus probolurus [64%], Trichuris globulosa [40%], Camelostrongylus mentulatus [38%], T. colubriformis [34%], Stilesia globipunctata [30%], Nematodirella dromedarii [22%], Haemonchus longistipes [18%], Nematodirus oiratianus [16%], Cooperia oncophora [16%], Trichuris barbetonensis [10%], Parabronema skrjabini [10%], Nematodirella cameli [10%], Marshallagia marshalli [4%], Teladorsagia circumcincta [4%], Moniezia benedeni [3%], Moniezia expansa [3%] and Trichostrongylus vitrinus [2%]. Nematodirella dromedarii, Trichostrongylus probolurus, Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Cooperia oncophora, and Nematodirus oiratianus, were identified from dromedary in Iran for the first time. The pathological lesions in the affected abomasums, as well as small and large intestines, were hyperaemic and thickened mucosa with haemorrhagic foci. Histopathological examination revealed inflammatory reaction in the abomasa, flattened mucosa and villous atrophy with inflammatory reactions composed of eosinophils and lymphocytes in the intestines, respectively. The prevalence observed in the present study indicates the necessity of using an anthelmintic drug for increasing the health and productivity of camels

Isolation of DNA from a single helminth using new developed kit in Iran and its PCR analysis

Nematodes are among the most common and important parasites of man and animal. DNA of a single worm can be used for several purposes, such as identification to the species, subspecies, strain and antihelmenthic resistance. DNA extraction from a single small worm using traditional methods such as phenol extraction technique faces serious problems. DNA from 20 single Haemonchus contortus was isolated using DNA isolation kit newly designed in Iran by the Research Unit of Molecular Biological System Transfer [MBST] based on the specific binding of DNA to the carrier. The genomic DNA was amplified using specific primers derived from beta-tubulin isotype 1 in PCR. The specificity of the PCR products was determined using semi-nested PCR technique. Specific PCR-product from beta-tubulin gene could be amplified with 1 ng, 100 pg and 10 pg DNA. The used DNA extraction method was safe, with high quality and quantity, fast, easy to handle and not costly for genetic analysis of even a single small worm. The Iran produced DNA extraction Kit is grounded on a selective binding of nucleic acids to a silica-based membrane and is recommended for the isolation of DNA from even small amount of biological materials