Molecular Detection of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) in Ticks of Iran.

Ticks are reservoir hosts of pathogenic Rickettsia in humans and domestic animals. Most pathogenic Rickettsia species belong to the spotted fever group (SFG). The present study aimed to determine the tick species infected with Rickettsia based on the genus-specific 23S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA), 16S rRNA, and citrate synthase (gltA) gene fragments. A total of 61 tick specimens were selected for molecular assay and 12 samples for sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted using neighbor-joining and Bayesian inference methods. Argas persicus, Haemaphysalis sulcata, Ha. inermis, and Hyalomma asiaticum were infected by spotted fever Rickettsia. The SFG is the main group of Rickettsia that can be detected in the three genera of ticks from Iran.

Molecular Detection of Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma ovis (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae) in Ixodid Tick Species in Iran.

The present study was conducted as the first molecular detection of Anaplasma species in tick samples based on the sequencing of major surface proteins 4 (msp4) gene fragments in different parts of Iran. A total of 130 tick specimens were collected from Hormozgan, Lorestan, and Guilan, Iran, within 2015 to 2017. Hyalomma asiaticum, Hyalomma dromedarii, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) species were identified in different geographical regions. An amplicon of 464-bp msp4 of Anaplasma was amplified using polymerase chain reaction in various tick species. Three sequences, including one Anaplasma marginale from R. (Boophilus) species and two Anaplasma ovis from Rhipicephalus sanguineus, were obtained after sequencing. It is concluded that bovine and ovine anaplasmosis agents are present in tick samples in Iran. The use of the gene families of six major surface proteins for the detection of various Anaplasma species is recommended.

Neutronic feasibility study of using a multipurpose MNSR for BNCT, NR, and NAA.

In this study, the conceptual design of a multipurpose research reactor for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), neutron radiography (NR) and neutron activation analysis (NAA) applications has been performed. Specifically, a suitable epithermal neutron flux (φEpi) of about 1×109 (n.cm-2.s-1) for BNCT and high quality thermal neutron flux (φTh) of above 1×106 (n.cm-2.s-1)for NR are carried out based on our LEU reactor core designing. The UO2 fuel with density of 10.5 g/cm3 and enrichment of 12.4% is applied as an appropriate LEU fuel. The reactor safety is assured by designing the safety control rod system with two banks. A fission converter facility (FCF) consists of 19 fuel rods of UO2 is used to increase φEpi for BNCT treatment. Furthermore, a unique thermal column of heavy water is used to increase φTh for NR purpose. Four internal irradiation sites, two external irradiation sites, and one large thermal column irradiation site are considered at the reactor which can be used for NAA application. The results of neutronic calculations show that the reactor meets the neutronic design limits for a low power research reactor.

An efficient method for detecting damaged FAs; burnup and PPF estimations by gamma spectroscopy.

The purpose of this study is to provide a quick and efficient experimental method to identify and find damaged fuel assemblies (FAs) among all assemblies of the core. This method is based on gamma spectroscopy by measuring the activity ratio of the desired fission fragments that leaked into the coolant. Using the 134Cs/137Cs activity ratio, and considering the history factor for each FA, we determine the fuel burnup. Furthermore, from the 133I × 135I /133Xe activity ratio, the power peaking factor can be determined. This spectroscopy is carried out for the Tehran Research Reactor to find its failed FA positions. Then, the spectrum at different cooling times has been studied. Specifically, from the 134Cs/137Cs (0.1212 ±â€¯0.003) activity ratio and the fuel history factor (2.1023), the fuel burnup of damaged fuel is anticipated to be 33.9%, and the result of the computational codes is found to be 33.1%; these two results are consistent with each other. The results of both experiment and code analysis show the relatively reasonable estimation of this method in finding the location of damaged FAs.

Molecular detection of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus in ticks collected from infested livestock populations in a New Endemic Area, South of Iran.

OBJECTIVE: Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a viral zoonotic disease with potentially fatal systemic effects on man. We aimed to determine the presence of CCHF virus among collected ticks from domestic livestock from October 2012 to September 2013. METHODS: A total of 1245 hard and soft ticks were collected from naturally infested ruminants in Marvdasht County, Fars Province, south of Iran. Nine tick species and one unidentified species in four disparate genera were detected. A total of 200 ticks were randomly selected and analysed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the presence of CCHF virus genome. RESULTS: The viral genome was detected in 4.5% (9 samples) of the studied tick population. The infected ticks belonged to the species of Hyalomma marginatum' Hyalomma anatolicum and Rhipicephalus sanguineus. The viruses detected in these three tick species were clustered in the same lineage as Matin and SR3 strains in Pakistan and some other Iranian strains. These results indicate that the ticks were wildly infected with a genetically closely related CCHF virus in the region. CONCLUSION: Regular controls and monitoring of livestock to reduce the dispersion of ticks and providing information to those involved in high-risk occupations are urgently required.

Serological and molecular epidemiology of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Ghaemshahr county in Mazandaran province; Iran.

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne viral hemorrhagic fever disease which is known as an endemic disease within some provinces of Iran. Ticks play an important role in transmission of the disease. As vector and reservoir, ticks transmit CCHF virus from livestock to human. The current study reports the presence of CCHFV in Ghaemshahr county of Mazandaran province, in north of Iran based on the evidences obtained from ELISA and RT- PCR. Based on our results, IgG antibodies against CCHFV were detected in 4(4.8%) out of 84 sheep sera samples. Forty sera were obtained from people who were in close contact with the examined sheep, none of which had IgG antibodies against CCHFV. Using RT-PCR, we confirmed the existence of CCHFV genome in 1.7% of hard tick samples. Sequence analysis demonstrated that CCHFV genomes isolated from ticks were 100% identical to those isolated from the corresponding livestock. This study confirms the presence of the virus in this region; so people in close contact with livestock and health care workers should be alerted.

The effect of purmorphamine and sirolimus on osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Small molecules have been introduced as less expensive biologically active compounds that can regulate different developmental phenomena. Purmorphamine and sirolimus are two small molecules that, according to some studies, possess certain osteomodulatory effects. This study was set out to highlight the appropriate dose and response time of these small molecules on enhancement of osteogenesis in human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells from early to mid and late stages of differentiation. Alkaline phosphatase activity, matrix mineralization and expression of osteoblast genes were quantitatively assessed in vitro. For the in vivo study, we transplanted stem cell-based constructs subcutaneously into rats, and treated them daily with the most promising doses of the small molecule. The constructs were analyzed by real-time PCR and histological staining. Our results showed that Sirolimus reduced osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells by decreasing alkaline phosphatase activity at dose of 100nM after 14 days and mineralization of the matrix at 14 and 21 days post-induction. Purmorphamine induced up-regulation of alkaline phosphatase activity and expression of RUNX-2 at day 14. Up-regulation of osteocalcin was detected at the 3 and 5µM doses of purmorphamine on day 14 post-induction. Matrix mineralization remained unchanged in the presence or absence of purmorphamine. This dose of small molecule also accelerated expression of Alkaline phosphatase transcripts in vivo. In conclusion, sirolimus had an inhibitory effect on osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells; while purmorphamine, particularly at a dose of 3µM, showed a promotive effect in vitro and in vivo.

Comparative susceptibility of cypermethrin in Ornithodoros lahorensis Neuman and Argas persicus Oken (Acari: Argasidae) field populations.

The toxicity of cypermethrin was determined in five different soft tick strains of Argas persicus Oken and Ornithodoros lahorensis Neuman by topical application method. The O. lahorensis Bij, O. lahorensis west O1, O. lahorensis Mesh, A. persicus Lor, A. persicus West Ap strains were collected from Bijar, Kurdistan province, Takab, Western Azerbaijan province, Meshkinshar, Ardebil province, Khoramabad, Lorestan province, Takab, Western Azerbaijan province of different areas of Islamic Republic of Iran, respectively during 2004 and 2005. In the topical application bioassay, the average LD50 of O. lahorensis Bij, West O1, Mesh and A. reflexus Lor and West AP strains were 0.03, 0.04, 1.7, 0.7 and 1.7 microg tick(-1), respectively and the steep slopes of dose-response curves indicated that the field population of these soft tick strains were homogenous in response to cypermethrin. Comparison of the resistance ratio of collected strains with susceptible strain showed a resistance ratio of 56.7 and 2.4-folds for cypermethrin in O. lahorensis Mesh and A. reflexus West Ap strains, whereas the O. lahorensis West O1 completely susceptible to cypermethrin.