Determining the Duration of Maternal Immunity Against Sheep Pox in Lambs.

Maternal immunity may affect vaccination success in young lambs. This study was aimed to determine the duration of the maternal immunity in lambs born from vaccinated ewe against Sheep pox. The level of neutralizing antibody against Sheeppox virus (SPPV) was measured in 14 lambs that were fed colostrum of their immunized mother (MCF lambs; n = 14) or reared with colostrum of ewes that were not immunized against Sheep pox, as the control (C lambs; n = 7), using virus neutralization index. The lambs were randomly divided into four experimental groups and after blood sampling, they were challenged by a virulent SPPV at different postbirth days, including 15 (2 CF and 1 C lambs), 30 (4 CF and 2 C lambs), 60 (4 CF and 2 C lambs), and 90 (4 CF and 2 C lambs) days of age. All the C lambs had no antibody titers against SPPV. Results of the challenge test showed that, up to 60 days of age, the MCF lambs had only localized scabs at the inoculation site and did not show any secondary pock lesions associated with Sheep pox; while all the C lambs were infected (p < 0.05). However, the percentage of lambs with Sheep pox signs was not different between C and MCF lambs after the challenge test at 90 days old lambs (p > 0.05), indicating decrease of maternal immunity. These findings revealed that the duration of maternal immunity against SPPV is ∼60 days, and vaccination is better to be performed at later ages.

Molecular Genotyping of the Human Cystic Echinococcosis in Mazandaran Province, North of Iran.

BACKGROUND: The larval stage of the tapeworm (cestode) Echinococcus granulosus is the etiological agent of hydatidosis or cystic echinococcosis, which is the zoonotic parasitic disease causing morbidity and mortality in both humans and livestock. Due to a lack of accurate data on the human isolates of E. granulosus in Mazandaran Province, northern Iran, the current study aimed to survey the population genetic pattern of cystic echinococcosis isolated from humans by sequencing the mitochondrial genes of NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (nad1). METHODS: Overall, 47 formalin fixed paraffin-embedded tissue (FFPT) blocks were collected from patients' files in various pathology departments of Mazandaran Province in Iran from 2003 to 2015. PCR was performed to amplify a 398bp DNA fragment of mitochondrial nad1. PCR products were sequenced by Bioneer Corporation (South Korea), and the resulting data were analyzed via relevant software to determine the genotypes. RESULTS: The nad1 gene was successfully amplified on 10 from all of the E. granulosus isolates. Overall, 66.6% and 33.3% of the isolates in the studied area displayed the G1 and G2-G3 genotypes, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study may provide the foundation for further studies in revealing the regional transmission patterns and also in designing adequate control procedures.