Genetic Affinity of Echinococcus granulosus protoscolex in Human and Sheep in East Azerbaijan, Iran.

Echinococcosis caused by the larval form of Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) is known as an important zoonotic disease in various parts of the world, including Iran. The genetic diversity of this parasite is very high, particularly in areas where the disease is endemic. It has been suggested in the literature from different parts of the world that diverse factors, such as parasite life cycle, transmission pathways, pathologic disease, immunization, and disease control can be affected by the genetic diversity of the parasite. Various studies indicated sheep strain G1 as the most common genotype throughout the world. This strain is commonly found in the liver and lung repeatedly causing echinococcosis in humans, sheep, and cattle. The present study was conducted to determine the genetic affinity between the protoscolex of E. granulosus in humans and sheep in East Azerbaijan province, Iran for the first time. A total of 120 hydatid cyst samples were collected, 60 of which were from people who referred to the hospitals of East Azerbaijan and 60 were from the sheep slaughtered in Tabriz slaughterhouse. Following DNA extraction, certain regions of the cox1 gene were amplified and evaluated by the polymerase chain reaction. The replicated parts in all isolates had the same size of 450 bp. Electrophoresis was followed by selecting a total of 60 suitable samples, including 30 human samples and 30 sheep samples and sending them for genome sequencing. The overlap of the samples was investigated using the BLAST software. The results of BLAST, sequencing, and overlap demonstrated a genetic linkage of approximately 91.76% between the protoscolex of E. granulosus in human and sheep.

Study on Cryptosporidium contamination in vegetable farms around Tehran.

In recent years, an increase in the number of cases of food-borne illnesses linked to fresh vegetables has been reported. One of the causative agents of these infections is Cryptosporidium and it appears that one route of transmission to humans is food-borne, so fruits and vegetables have important roles. The goal of this study was to determine the level of Cryptosporidium contamination in vegetable farms around Tehran, Iran. A total of 496 samples from 115 vegetable farms in different regions around Tehran (Capital city of Iran) were collected and different types of vegetables were investigated for the parasite in June and July, 2012. A sediment concentration method followed by modified Ziehl-Neelsen's acid-fast staining was used to determine the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts. Our findings revealed that 6.6% of studied samples were contaminated with Cryptosporidium species. The highest rate of contamination was reported in Bagher Abad (South of Tehran) (11.1%), and green onions were more commonly contaminated (14.8%) than any other vegetables tested. Furthermore, when waste water was used to irrigate vegetable farms, the contamination rate was (33.3%). Statistical analysis showed a correlation between contamination with Cryptosporidium spp. and studied risk factors including: different regions around Tehran, type of vegetables, and type of water used for farm irrigation. Therefore, vegetables may provide a route by which Cryptosporidium can be transmitted to humans, and control strategies should be considered.

Study on Cryptosporidium contamination in vegetable farms around Tehran

In recent years, an increase in the number of cases of food-borne illnesses linked to fresh vegetables has been reported. One of the causative agents of these infections is Cryptosporidium and it appears that one route of transmission to humans is food-borne, so fruits and vegetables have important roles. The goal of this study was to determine the level of Cryptosporidium contamination in vegetable farms around Tehran, Iran. A total of 496 samples from 115 vegetable farms in different regions around Tehran (Capital city of Iran) were collected and different types of vegetables were investigated for the parasite in June and July, 2012. A sediment concentration method followed by modified Ziehl-Neelsen's acid-fast staining was used to determine the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts. Our findings revealed that 6.6% of studied samples were contaminated with Cryptosporidium species. The highest rate of contamination was reported in Bagher Abad (South of Tehran) (11.1%), and green onions were more commonly contaminated (14.8%) than any other vegetables tested. Furthermore, when waste water was used to irrigate vegetable farms, the contamination rate was (33.3%). Statistical analysis showed a correlation between contamination with Cryptosporidium spp. and studied risk factors including: different regions around Tehran, type of vegetables, and type of water used for farm irrigation. Therefore, vegetables may provide a route by which Cryptosporidium can be transmitted to humans, and control strategies should be considered.

Cryptosporidiosis and its potential risk factors in children and calves in Babol, north of Iran.

This study was carried out during April-August 2009 to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. and its potential risk factors in children and calves in Babol, north of Iran. A total of 150 faecal samples were taken directly from the rectums of calves which were no more than two months old. Information about age, breeding conditions, consistency of faeces (as diarrhoeic or normal) and contact with human were recorded. At the same time, 150 stool samples were taken from children aged one month to 6 years old in Amir Kola children hospital (Babol, north of Iran). All samples were stained with modified Ziehl-Neelsen's acid-fast and Auramine O techniques to detect for the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts. Results revealed that the prevalence of Cryptosporidium in children and calves were 16% and 7.33% (Auramine O stain), and 10.67% and 4% (Modified Acid-fast stain), respectively. The prevalence of the infection according to age groups and consistency of faeces were found to be statistically significant with Auramine O stain. The prevalence of infection in urban and rural children was similar, but prevalence of Cryptosporidium was more in calves with native breeding. The young calves and children and type of animal breeding represent important risk factors for transmission of cryptosporidiosis. Moreover, there was no relationship between infection of Cryptosporidium in children and calves. Our finding revealed that clinical cryptosporidiosis cases exist in north of Iran and the most important infection route for Cryptosporidium spp. is anthroponotic transmission.

Epidemiological aspects of canine dirofilariasis in the north of iran.

BACKGROUND: Dirofilaria immitis is an important parasite in dog and other carnivores. Our objective was study on incidence and periodicity of heartworm in north of Iran and using other methods for its diagnosis in addition to Parasitology exam. METHODS: This survey spanned two years, between 2006 and 2008. Blood samples were collected from 431 stray dogs distributed along north of Iran, the coastal areas of the Caspian Sea. The Knott's modified test was used for diagnosis of D. immitis and other filariae. Meanwhile, the periodicity of microfilaria in peripheral blood circulation was calculated and the imaging diagnosis techniques of four dogs that had positive results were done. RESULTS: Diagnostic parasitology results indicated that 16.01% of stray dogs were microfilaremic. Two different microfilariae were diagnosed: D. immitis in 13.69%, Dipetalonema reconditum in 1.86% and in 0.46% both of them. There was no statistically significant between infection to fiariae with sex and age of dogs. Also study on the periodicity of the presence of microfilaria in peripheral circulation showed that the highest rate of those was at 1 am and the lowest rate at 12 pm. Radiographic study showed distinctive signs with varied degrees of severity included: Tortuous and enlargement of main and lobar pulmonary artery, pulmonary parenchymal lesions and Right side heart enlargement that confirmed in electrocardiography. Also in echocardiographic images observed short parallel-sided images with the appearance of equal signs that indicated the presence of the heartworm. CONCLUSION: These results showed that to obtain a reliable diagnosis of heartworm infection, imaging tests could support parasitological exams.

Infection of Anisakids Larvae in Long Tail Tuna (Thunnus tonggol) In North Persian Gulf.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this paper was to study the prevalence and intensity of Anisakids larvae in the long tail tuna fish captured from Iranian shores of Persian Gulf. METHODS: Different organs including skin, abdominal cavity, stomach and intestinal contents, stomach sub serous tissues, liver, spleen, gonads and 20 grams of muscles of 100 long tail tuna fish (Thannustonggol) caught from waters of the north parts of Persian Gulf were searched for anisakid nematodes larvae. Twenty grams of around the body cavity muscles were digested in artificial gastric juice. Different organs and digested muscles were examined with naked eyes for the presence of anisakids larvae. The collected larvae were preserved in 70% alcohol containing 5% glycerin, and cleared in lactophenol for identification. RESULTS: Our findings revealed that 89% of fish harbored 3(rd) stage larvae of Anisakis sp. of which 2% were infected with both Anisakis and Raphidascaris. All inspected organs except that of skin were found to be infected, while stomach sub serous tissues were the most infected organ (80%) followed by abdominal cavity (10%), liver (4%), testicle (3%), stomach contents and spleen (2%) and intestinal contents (1%). Intestine and abdominal cavity were the organs harbored Raphidascaris sp. Digested muscles were free of parasite. Mean intensity was low for both species and ranged between 1.5 for Raphidascaris sp. and 3.67 for Anisaki sp. CONCLUSION: Anisakids larvae especially Anisakis are very prevalent in some fish including tunas of Persian Gulf, and consumption of infected fish if it is not properly cooked may lead to human anisakiasis.

Helminth infections of stray dogs from garmsar, semnan province, central iran.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to study the gastro-intestinal helminths of stray dogs of Garmsar, Semnan Province, Central Iran, and its impacts on human health and animal production. METHODS: During 2006, the alimentary tracts of 50 stray dogs at necropsy, selected from villages around Garmsar, were removed, and examined for helminth infections. Subsequently helminths were collected from the contents of each part and scraped sample of small intestines of washed materials in a 100-mesh sieve. To identify the species of helminths, the nematodes were cleared in lactophenol and cestodes were stained using carmine acid. RESULTS: Mixed infection was the rule and 40 dogs (80%) harbored more than one species of helminth. Taenia hydatigena was the most prevalent species (80%) followed by Echinococcus granulosus (64%), Toxocara canis (22%), Mesocestoides lineatus (12%), Taenia multiceps (10%) and Dipylidium caninum (4%). The mean intensity of worm infection was low (1-3) except for that of E. granulosus (645). No significant difference was noticed between sex, age and most helminth infections except for that of sex and T. hydatigena (P=0.001) as well as age and T. canis (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Although human infection with T. hydatigena is unlikely, but other helminths reported in this study are of zoonotic importance, and may pose a threat to community health, and reduce the productions of ruminants harboring taeniid metacestodes.