Quercetin nano phytosome: as a novel anti-leishmania and anti-malarial natural product.

Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease that affects several populations worldwide with the clinical manifestations in skin, mucous membranes, and internal organs and there are not any effective and available vaccines and conventional treatments are highly toxic. Quercetin is a kind of flavonoid with different biological effects including free radical scavenging and anti-microbial activity and this study is aimed to assess the anti-leishmania and anti-malarial effects of quercetin loaded phytosome and quercetin alone. In this experimental study, the in vitro activity of above drugs were measured using microscopically examinations and for evaluation the anti-leishmanial efficacy, the size of lesions were measured. Moreover the cytotoxicity of the treatments was evaluated on WI38 and J774 cell lines. Our results indicated that quercetin loaded phytosome and quercetin alone have acceptable anti-parasitic activity mostly at concentration of 400 µg/ml on both P. falciparium and L. major. The results of cytotoxicity revealed that the mentioned drugs have no effects on human cell lines and also have no hemolytic activity. The drug of choice for the treatment of leishmaniasis, in addition to killing the parasite, should not have a toxic effect on human cells and our results indicated that quercetin can be a valuable candidate for treatment of different kinds of leishmaniasis.

Cytotoxicity and Anti-Plasmodium berghei Activity of Emodin Loaded Nanoemulsion.

Background: Malaria parasites cause a tremendous burden of disease in both the tropics and subtropics areas. Growing of drugs resistance in parasites is one of the most threats to malaria control. The aim of study was to investigate the anti-malarial activity of nano-emodin isolated from Rhamnus cathartica on Plasmodium berghei in mice to evaluate parasites inhibition rate using in-vivo test. Methods: The study was conducted in the School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, during 2020. Nano-emodin particles were prepared from Rhamnus cathartica, and confirmed by Zeta Potential Analyzer, DLS and electron microscopy techniques. Mice were infected with P. berghei and treated by emodin nano-particles. Parasitemia was evaluated in each group in comparison with control group. Toxicity test was done using twice the highest concentration of emodin extract on a separate group of mice and ED50 was calculated. Results: Emodin extract was significantly effective in all concentrations on D4 (P<0.05). The most effective on parasitemia was observed in 400 mg/kg of Liquid Nano-emodin and solid (non-Nano) emodin. ED50 for emodin extract was determined 220 mg/kg. Toxicity test showed no toxic effect on the subjects. Conclusion: The emodin extract is safe, lack of side effects. So, it can be used for more and longer period of time and in higher doses. Emodin extract, either in form of liquid and nanoparticle or in a solid form, has the same therapeutic effect on P. berghei in infected Balb/c mice.

Quorum quenching of Streptococcus mutans via the nano-quercetin-based antimicrobial photodynamic therapy as a potential target for cariogenic biofilm.

BACKGROUND: Quorum sensing (QS) system can regulate the expression of virulence factors and biofilm formation in Streptococcus mutans. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) inhibits quorum quenching (QQ), and can be used to prevent microbial biofilm. We thereby aimed to evaluate the anti-biofilm potency and anti-metabolic activity of nano-quercetin (N-QCT)-mediated aPDT against S. mutans. Also, in silico evaluation of the inhibitory effect of N-QCT on the competence-stimulating peptide (CSP) of S. mutans was performed to elucidate the impact of aPDT on various QS-regulated genes. METHODS: Cytotoxicity and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation were assessed following synthesis and confirmation of N-QCT. Subsequently, the minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC) of N-QCT against S. mutans and anti-biofilm effects of aPDT were assessed using colorimetric assay and plate counting. Molecular modeling and docking analysis were performed to confirm the connection of QCT to CSP. The metabolic activity of S. mutans and the expression level of various genes involved in QS were evaluated by flow cytometry and reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR, respectively. RESULTS: Successful synthesis of non-toxic N-QCT was confirmed through several characterization tests. The MBIC value of N-QCT against S. mutans was 128 µg/mL. Similar to the crystal violet staining, the results log10 CFU/mL showed a significant degradation of preformed biofilms in the group treated with aPDT compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Following aPDT, metabolic activity of S. mutans also decreased by 85.7% (1/2 × MBIC of N-QCT) and 77.3% (1/4 × MBIC of N-QCT), as compared to the control values (P < 0.05). In silico analysis showed that the QCT molecule was located in the site formed by polypeptide helices of CSP. The relative expression levels of the virulence genes were significantly decreased in the presence of N-QCT-mediated aPDT (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of N-QCT with blue laser as a QQ-strategy leads to maximum ROS generation, disrupts the microbial biofilm of S. mutans, reduces metabolic activity, and downregulates the expression of genes involved in the QS pathway by targeting genes of the QS signaling system of S. mutans.

Anti-leishmanial effects of resveratrol and resveratrol nanoemulsion on Leishmania major.

BACKGROUND: Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease that is endemic in the tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world. Low efficacy and high cytotoxicity of the current treatment regimens for leishmaniasis is one of the most important health problems. In this experimental study, anti-leishmanial effects of different concentrations of resveratrol and resveratrol nano-emulsion (RNE) were assessed. METHODS: RNE was prepared using the probe ultra-sonication method. The cytotoxicity was evaluated using the MTT technique on the L929 cell line. The anti-leishmanial activities on promastigotes of leishmania were assessed using vital staining and infected BALB/c mice were used to assess the in vivo anti-leishmanial effects. RESULTS: In vitro and in vivo assays revealed that all concentrations of resveratrol and RNE had valuable inhibitory effects against Leishmania major in comparison to the control group (P < 0.05). The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values were calculated as 16.23 and 35.71 µg/mL for resveratrol and RNE, respectively. Resveratrol and RNE showed no cytotoxicity against the L929 cell line. CONCLUSIONS: According to the potent in vitro and in vivo anti-leishmanial activity of RNE at low concentration against L. major, we suggest that it could be a promising anti-leishmanial therapeutic against L. major in the future.

Utility of blood as the clinical specimen for the diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis using uracil DNA glycosylase-supplemented loop-mediated isothermal amplification and real-time polymerase chain reaction assays based on REP-529 sequence and B1 gene.

BACKGROUND: Ocular infection with Toxoplasma gondii is a major preventable cause of blindness, especially in young people. The aim of the present study was to assess detection rate of T. gondii DNA in blood samples of clinically diagnosed of ocular toxoplasmosis using uracil DNA glycosylase-supplemented loop-mediated isothermal amplification (UDG-LAMP) and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) based on REP-529 and B1. METHODS: One hundred and seventeen patients with clinically diagnosed ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) were participated in the study as well as 200 control patients. Peripheral blood samples were assessed using UDG-LAMP and qPCR techniques targeting REP-529 and B1. RESULTS: Detection limits of qPCR using REP-529 and B1 were estimated as 0.1 and 1 fg of T. gondii genomic DNA, respectively. The limits of detection for UDG-LAMP using REP-529 and B1 were 1 and 100 fg, respectively. In this study, 18 and 16 patients were positive in qPCR using REP-529 and B1, respectively. Based on the results of UDG-LAMP, 15 and 14 patients were positive using REP-529 and B1, respectively. Results of the study on patients with active ocular lesion showed that sensitivity of REP-529 and BI targets included 64 and 63%, respectively using qPCR. Sensitivity of 62 and 61%, were concluded from UDG-LAMP using REP-529 and B1 in the blood cases of active ocular lesion. qPCR was more sensitive than UDG-LAMP for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in peripheral blood samples of patients with clinically diagnosed toxoplasmic chorioretinitis. Furthermore, the REP-529 included a better detection rate for the diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis in blood samples, compared to that the B1 gene did. Moreover, the qPCR and UDG-LAMP specificity assessments have demonstrated no amplifications of DNAs extracted from other microorganisms based on REP-529 and B1. CONCLUSIONS: Data from the current study suggest that qPCR and UDG-LAMP based on the REP-529 are promising diagnostic methods for the diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis in blood samples of patients with active chorioretinal lesions.

Corynosoma caspicum (Acanthocephala, Polymorphidae), as a heavy metal bioindicator in the fish Gasterosteus aculeatus from the Caspian Sea, northern Iran.

Previous marine biology studies found that the concentration of heavy metals in some parasites of fish such as acanthocephalans can be a proper bioindicator. Therefore, we attempted to measure five heavy metal concentrations in the tissues of the fish Gasterosteus aculeatus (G. aculeatus) and its acanthocephalan parasites, Corynosoma caspicum (C. caspicum) from the Southern Caspian Sea, northern Iran. G. aculeatus (three-spined stickleback) was collected from the south of the Caspian Sea, Mazandaran Province, northern Iran. After tissue preparation, the heavy metal concentrations in fishes and acanthocephalans were obtained using the tissue dissolution technique and an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The concentrations of chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) in the skin, liver, muscle, and intestine tissues of the fish and its parasites, C. caspicum, were measured and compared. Eighty (32%) of 250 collected fish were infected by at least one acanthocephalan parasite. The Cr indicated the highest concentration (5.329±3.275) of the heavy metals in acanthocephalan, even more than the skin, liver, and muscle of infected fishes. Cd had the lowest concentration (0.0333±0.0075) of heavy metals in acanthocephalan, but it was still higher than the concentration in the infected fishes' skin, liver, muscle, and intestine tissues. Our findings indicated that C. caspicum parasites can be considered extremely sensitive early-alert bioindicators, particularly in sensitive and under-threat environments with low pollution levels.

In vivo anti-leishmanial activity of concocted herbal topical preparation against Leishmania major (MRHO/IR/75/ER).

Cutaneous leishmaniosis (CL) is considered as one of the most important tropical diseases. Herbal therapy is the ideal treatment for CL because of the reduced injection pain, availability, lower cost and non-toxicity effects. The present study aimed to evaluate the in vivo antileishmanial activity of concocted herbal topical preparation (Aloe vera, Perovskia abrotanoides, Nigella sativa, propolis, lavender and olive oil) to evaluate its efficacy against Leishmania major (MRHO/IR/75/ER) in comparison to the gold standard treatment. Following the cause of cutaneous leishmaniosis, the BALB/c mice were divided into three groups, test group (ointment formulation), positive control (Glucantime) and negative control (untreated), respectively, which were treated twice a day for 28 consecutive days. The lesion size and parasite burden were evaluated for in vivo evaluation. The herbal topical ointment was able to significantly decline the lesion progression and reduce parasite burden in mice inoculated with L. major promastigotes in the test group compared with the negative control group (P=<0.001). In mice treated with the formulation, the number of amastigotes significantly decreased (P=<0.001), compared with that in the negative control group. Moreover, comparative features of both treatments showed there was no difference between the herbal-treated and glucantime-treat mice (P=0.63). The herbal topical ointment displayed significant in vivo antileishmanial activities. It may be that using ointment formulation beside other skin repair compounds can be used as an alternative medicine in the treatment and healing of human CL lesions. Further investigations are needed to study the pharmacologic and pharmacokinetics aspects of ointment formulation in the treatment and healing of human CL lesions.

Emerging Cases of Fascioliasis in Lorestan Province, Western Iran: Case Series Report.

Fascioliasis is a zoonotic disease caused by Fasciola spp. We report five serologically and molecularly confirmed cases in an emerging region in Iran. A retrospective, case series study, performed in Lorestan Province, west of Iran between January 2015 and June 2016. From 1256 patients examined, 16 patients had positive serum ELISA. Five cases were approved as infected with fasciolosis using stool exam and PCR. Age ranged from 24 to 80 yr with mean age of 45 years. All of patients were adults and four of them had abdominal and back pain. Other symptoms included fever and chills, coughing and sore throat, weight loss, cutaneous manifestations. All patients lived in the rural environment, and four reported the ingestion of raw aquatic plants such as watercress. In fecal examination for fluke eggs, four samples were positive for F. hepatica eggs. Conventional PCR analysis showed that five human stools were positive for F. hepatica. All of 5 patients were treated with the usual dose of triclabendazole. A history of recent consumption of raw aquatic plants (in 4 out of 5 patients) is an important finding, but in one patient the source of infection remained unclear. Lorestan should be considered as an emerging region for this disease and further research in this province should be carried out.

The anti-biofilm capability of nano-emodin-mediated sonodynamic therapy on multi-species biofilms produced by burn wound bacterial strains.

BACKGROUND: Management of burn wound infections (BWIs) is difficult due to the emergence of multidrug-resistant microorganisms. This study aimed to explore the anti-biofilm efficacy of sonodynamic therapy (SDT) using nano-emodin (N-EMO) against multi-species bacterial biofilms containing Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii. METHODS: Following synthesis and confirmation of N-EMO as a sonosensitizer, the anti-biofilm efficacy of SDT against multi-species bacterial biofilms was determined using minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC), minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC), and minimal biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) of N-EMO. The reduction of multi-species bacterial biofilms was then evaluated following the treatments using Log reduction and crystal violet (CV) assays. In addition, the expression profiling of abaI, agrA, and lasI genes using SDT with sub-MIC, sub-MBIC, and sub-MBEC of N-EMO was assessed. RESULTS: Successful synthesis of N-EMO was confirmed through several characterization tests. As the results demonstrated, the MIC value of N-EMO for the multi-species bacterial suspension was 0.15 × 10-4 g/L, as well as, the MBEC value of N-EMO was 2.5 × 10-4 g/L, approximately 4-fold higher than that of MBIC (0.62 × 10-4 g/L). According to the CV assay, there were 57.8 %, 71.0 %, and 81.5 % reduction in the biofilm of multi-species bacterial growth following SDT using 1/128 MBEC, 1/16 MBIC, and 1/2 MIC of N-EMO, respectively. Log reductions analysis demonstrated that 1/2 MIC of N-EMO was more potent in inhibiting the biofilm growth of multi-species test bacteria by 5.725 ±â€¯0.12 (99.9993 %). In this study, N-EMO-mediated SDT could obviously downregulate the gene expression of virulence factors (P < 0.05). The gene expression of lasI, agrA, and abaI were downregulated about 2.5-, 3.6-, and 5.5-fold; and 3.0-, 5.2-, and 7.4-fold following SDT with sub-MBIC and sub-MBEC of N-EMO, respectively. CONCLUSION: These results highlight the potential of N-EMO-mediated SDT in inhibition of biofilm formation, degradation of formed biofilms, and reduction of virulence factor associated with biofilms of multi-species bacterial biofilms in BWIs.

In Vitro Antiprotozoal Effects of Nano-chitosan on Plasmodium falciparum, Giardia lamblia and Trichomonas vaginalis.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of parasitic infections with conventional drugs is associated with high toxicity, and undesirable side effects require cogent substitutions. Nanotechnology has provided novel approaches to synthesize nano-drugs to improve efficient antipathetic treatment. PURPOSE: Nano-chitosan as a nontoxic antimicrobial agent was examined against three most prevalent protozoa in humans, Plasmodium falciparum, Giardia lamblia and Trichomonas vaginalis. METHODS: Chitosan extracted from Penicillium fungi was converted to nanoparticles to maximize its therapeutic properties. Safety of nano-chitosan was examined by determining its hemolytic property and toxicity on PC12 cells. The studied parasites were identified with RFLP-PCR and cultivation in relevant media. Characteristics of nano-chitosan as an useful and valuable curative compound was evaluated by FTIR, DLS and SEM. Dose dependent anti-parasitic effect of nano-chitosan was evaluated. RESULTS: The highest anti-parasitic activity of the nano-chitosan was observed at 50 µg/mL by which growth rates of cultivated P. falciparum, T. vaginalis and G. lamblia were inhibited by 59.5%, 99.4%, and 31.3%, respectively. The study demonstrated that nano-chitosan with the least toxicity, low side effects, and substantial efficacy deserved to be considered as an anti-parasitic nano-compound. CONCLUSION: Nano-chitosan significantly inhibited protozoan growth in vitro promising to explore its use to combat parasitic infections. Further investigations covering extended sample size, in vivo experiments and optimizing the concentration used may lead to efficient treatment of protozoan diseases.

Actin Gene-Based Molecular Typing of Trichomonas vaginalis Clinical Isolates from the North of Iran.

AIM: The aim of the current study is to evaluate the prevalence of trichomoniasis in men and women in the north of Iran and to find genotypes in the positive clinical specimens based on T. vaginalis actin gene. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Women's genital (n = 500) and men's urine (n = 1500) samples were collected from the participants referred to clinics in Mazandaran Province, northern Iran, during 2006-2018. In addition, 1500 Pap smear specimens, archived in the Bu Ali Hospital, Sari City, Mazandaran Province, northern Iran, were examined. The specimens were examined based on parasitological methods, nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism, and phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 17 (0.48%) of 3500 specimens were positive by PCR. Total prevalence was 0.55% (n = 2000) for women, of which 500 (1.4%; n = 7) specimens were collected freshly, and 1500 (0.26%; n = 4) were Pap smears. Moreover, six (0.4%) out of 1500 men urine specimens were positive. Overall, genotypes G, E, and I were detected with the prevalence of seven (0.2%), seven (0.2%), and three (0.08%), respectively. There was no significant statistical difference among the prevalence of the detected genotypes (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: As a whole, the prevalence of trichomoniasis was low in the studied area in the north of Iran and, most importantly, the genotypes of E, G, and I were distributed among men and women in the province.

Sonodynamic excitation of nanomicelle curcumin for eradication of Streptococcus mutans under sonodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy: Enhanced anti-caries activity of nanomicelle curcumin.

BACKGROUND: Inactivation of microorganisms related to dental caries has been considered the therapy of choice in the treatment of caries. The proposed study aims to assess the effect of sonodynamic excitation of nanomicelle curcumin (NM@Cur) compared to Cur for eradication of Streptococcus mutans under sonodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (SACT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The NM@Cur as a sonosensitizer was synthesized and its morphology, particle size distribution, zeta potential, and physical stability were then determined. After evaluating the Cur and NM@Cur uptake in S. mutans strain, Cur- and NM@Cur-SACT effects were determined on colony forming unit (CFU/mL) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Additionally, cytotoxicity and apoptotic effects of Cur- and NM@Cur-SACT on human gingival fibroblast (HGF) cells were assessed using MTT assay and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. RESULTS: Transmission electron microscope, particle size distribution, and zeta potential analysis confirmed successful synthesis of NM@Cur. The finding of this study showed that an incubation time of 5 min to 1 h was sufficient to achieve maximal uptake of Cur and NM@Cur in S. mutans. SACT with Cur at a concentration of 50 mM and ultrasound intensity at 1.56 W/cm2 for 1 min significantly reduced the count of S. mutans to 90.8 %, compared to control group (P < 0.05), while the count of S. mutans decreased to 99.9 % following treatment with the NM@Cur-SACT (P < 0.05), that was also confirmed via fluorescence microscopy. As well as, SACT with 50 mM NM@Cur not only had the least toxicity against HGF cells, but also showed 10.8-fold increase in intracellular ROS production. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this study revealed that NM@Cur-mediated SACT with the least cytotoxicity and apoptotic effects and the highest cellular uptake, ROS production, and antimicrobial activites could effectively inhibit the growth of the S. mutans in compare with Cur.

Evaluation of RE and B1 Genes as Targets for Detection of Toxoplasma gondii by Nested PCR in Blood Samples of Patients with Ocular Toxoplasmosis.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate B1 and RE genes as targets to detect Toxoplasma gondii, nested PCR is used in blood samples of patients with ocular toxoplasmosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Following the measurement of IgG and IgM antibodies using indirect ELISA, IgG avidity and assessment of blood samples by nested PCR, the agreement between various test results was studied. RESULTS: From 117 patients, 77 (65.81%) were found to be positive for IgG anti-Toxoplasma antibody, 12 cases were positive for both IgG and IgM, and 1 patient was positive for IgM only. The detection limit for the RE-nested PCR assay was one T. gondii tachyzoite, whereas the limit for B1-nested PCR was five tachyzoites. Nested PCR results showed higher agreement with IgM test results than IgG test results. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that nested PCR of peripheral blood is a useful and non-invasive method for detection of T. gondii in patients with OT, especially in case of recently acquired infections, and RE targeted assay is more sensitive than B1 targeted assay for this purpose.

Effects of some natural products from fungal and herbal sources on Giardia lamblia in vivo.

Giardia lamblia (G. lamblia) is the most widely known protozoan parasite that causes human gastrointestinal infection worldwide. Some natural compounds exhibited pivotal effects against different infectious diseases. In this research, the antigiardial activity and cytotoxicity of fungal chitosan, nano-chitosan, Rhamnus cathartica (R. cathartica) and emodin were evaluated in Balb/c mice. Genotyping of G. lamblia was assessed by PCR-RFLP technique. Different concentrations of mentioned compounds were used to check their antigiardial and cytotoxicity effects on human intestinal epithelial cells (HT-29) after 24, 48 and 72 h. The G. lamblia strain used in the current work was genotyped and revealed as an AII assemblage. All the concentration showed acceptable activity against G. lamblia cysts and trophozoites in comparison to the negative and positive controls (furazolidone and metronidazole) in vitro (P 0.05). The maximum mortality rate (100%) was achieved at 100 and 50 µg kg-1 concentrations after 48 and 72 h of exposure time, respectively. Our results provide significant information about the new antigiardial agent and proposed the nano-chitosan and emodin for the development of new drugs against G. lamblia in the future.

Evaluation of Anticancer Activity of Camellia Sinensis in the Caco-2 Colorectal Cancer Cell Line

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is widespread across the world. While conventional anticancer treatments can help the affected patients, cells of vital organs such as the kidney, lungs, bladder and nervous system may suffer from side effects of chemotherapeutic drugs, so that it is necessary to search for alternatives. From ancient times, attention has focused on medicinal plants and natural products. In the current work, Camellia sinensis, whose leaves are used to produce green tea was evaluated for anticancer effects in cell culture. Materials and Methods: A hydroalcoholic extract of Camellia sinensis young leaves was prepared by percolation and compared with Cisplatin as a known anticancer drug for effects on two cell lines: Caco-2, colon carcinoma cells, and mouse normal fibroblasts (L929). Cytotoxicity of 50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 µg/ml of Camellia sinensis extract was evaluated by MTT assay and aquaporin 5 (AQP5), detected as a biomarker for surviving cells using immunofluorescence microscopy. Results: MTT assays with hydroalcoholic extract of Camellia sinensis showed considerable inhibition of growth of Caco-2 cells, significant at 800 µg/ml (P<0.05), with little effect on L929 cells. Levels of aquaporin 5 protein decreased in Caco-2 cell culture following green tea extract treatment. Conclusion: According to the results of the current study, Camellia sinensis is a medicinal plant with potent anticancer influence which might be specific.

Serologic Tests of IgG and IgM Antibodies and IgG Avidity for Diagnosis of Ocular Toxoplasmosis.

This prospective study was aimed to detect acute and chronic ocular toxoplasmosis by comparison of anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgM and IgG antibody levels and IgG avidity test. One hundred and seventeen patients with ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) who referred to the Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran were included in this study. Of the patients, 77 cases were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG, and 8 cases were positive for anti-T. gondii IgM. IgG avidity test revealed 11, 4, and 102 cases were low, intermediate, and high, respectively, and 6.8% and 9.4% of cases were positive for IgM and IgG avidity tests, respectively (P=0.632). Agreement (Kappa value) between paired tests IgG-IgM, IgG-IgG avidity, and IgM-IgG avidity was 0.080, 0.099, and 0.721, respectively (P<0.05). This study showed that conventional serologic tests (IgM and IgG levels) and IgG avidity correlate well each other and can be used to differentiate recent infections from old OT. It seems that reactivated old infections rather than recently acquired infections are majority of Iranian OT patients.

Human Cystic Echinococcosis in Different Geographical Zones of Iran: An Observational Study during 1995-2014.

BACKGROUND: Cystic Echinococcosis (CE) is a serious zoonotic parasitic disease in Iran. This study aimed to show the trend of the confirmed disease from 1995 to 2014 and to describe some of epidemiological aspects of the disease in Iran. METHODS: This retrospective study has been designed based on data collected from 8518 cases of CE among various geographical locations of Iran. RESULTS: The average annual number of human cases of CE was 274.8. Among 31 provinces of Iran, Razavi Khorasan from northeast part of Iran was the highest human CE infected province with the 1801 cases and Hormozgan Province in south part of the country showed the lowest the disease with the only one case of CE in 2009. Liver and lungs with the infection rate of 61% and 20%, respectively are the most infected organs, 53% of patients had one cyst in the bodies and the number of cysts in 8% of cases was more than 3 cysts. Altogether, 41% of CE cases were treated by surgery, 11% with chemotherapy and 48 % with mixed surgery and chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Human CE is a major health problem in Iran and it is necessary to establish basic control programs. It is crucial to setting up standard diagnostic methods for early diagnosis, effective treatment, plan educational schedule for different social levels and control the disease in both definitive and intermediate hosts.

Prevalence of Corynosoma caspicum infection in Gasterosteus aculeatus fish in Caspian Sea, Northern Iran.

AIM: There is little information about the prevalence of Corynosoma caspicum in fish particularly Gasterosteus aculeatus in Iran and the world. The aim of the present study was to find out the prevalence of acanthocephalan infection in Babolsar district, southern coastal of Caspian Sea, Northern Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between September 2012 and August 2014, a total of 360 G. aculeatus fishes were randomly collected by drift nets from coastal regions in Babolsar and then examined the intestine and body cavity for worm infections. RESULTS: A total of 360 G. aculeatus fishes, 109 (30.3%) were found infected with at least one Corynosoma capsicum, and there was no significant association between genders and the prevalence infection of acanthocephalan. Moreover, there was a significant difference in infected rate between summer (79%, 86/109) and spring (21%, 23/109) (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The high occurrence of Corynosoma infection in G. aculeatus indicates the enzootic constancy status of the infection in the southern coastal of Caspian Sea, Northern Iran.

Serological evidence of human cystic echinococcosis and associated risk factors among general population in Mazandaran Province, northern Iran.

The aim of the present study was to determine the seroprevalence of CE among human referring to Health Centers in Mazandaran Province, northern Iran and to identify the risk factors involved in spreading the disease. Between 2013 and 2014, the serum samples were taken randomly from 600 subjects referring to health centers in Mazandaran Province. After obtaining informed consent for each participant, a questionnaire including demographic characteristics and associated risk factors was filled for each individual. Anti-CE antibody was tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), using native antigen B. Our results showed 31.6% (n = 190) seropositivity. There were significant difference between seropositivity and sex and residence. Males were significantly more seropositive than females (24.6% versus 7%, P = 0.0001). Regression analysis showed that the subjects who are living in rural areas were 4.4 times more likely to be at risk to CE than urban areas (OR = 4.4; 95% CI = 2.91, 6.64). Contact with dogs, soil and consumed raw vegetables was appeared as main risk factors for CE among community in Mazandaran and it may increase the probability of infection. The high prevalence of CE among individuals indicated that hydatidosis is still a major health problem among community in the investigated areas.

New Record of Brachylaima sp. (Digenea: Brachylaimidae) from a Stray Dog in North Iran.

BACKGROUND: Stray dogs are considered potential reservoirs for zoonotic diseases. Previous helminthic surveys in Iran, have accounted for mainly species of nematodes and cestodes, and rarely digeneans. METHODS: We accessed 42 car-crashed stray dogs from the Farah Abad Region in the Mazandaran Province (North Iran) between Oct 2012 and Dec 2013, to be inspected for parasites. Helminths were collected from the intestine and they were morphologically studied. RESULTS: We found five adult digeneans from the family Brachylaimidae, identified as Brachylaima sp. Worms were assigned to the genus based on the shape of the body, the position of genital pore, cirrus sac and testes, and the extension of the vitellarium. Absence of additional information on the developmental stages of the parasite precluded its specific identification. As the geographic distribution of species of Brachylaima is restricted to the Mediterranean region, we raise the hypothesis that dogs may become infected with parasites through the consumption of helicid snails when searching for food on the street. CONCLUSION: This is the second report of a species of Brachylaima in Iran and the third digenean species from stray dogs in the area. We want to raise the attention of researchers to helminthic surveys in potential zoonotic reservoirs like stray dogs.