Iranian Journal of Parasitology最新文献

Background: We aimed to investigate the prevalence of Enterocytozoon bieneusi and the circulating genotypes in wild boar in the western regions of Iran.

Methods: Fifty-two fecal samples were collected from wild boars in Lorestan province, Iran. After DNA extraction, the presence of E. bieneusi was evaluated by real-time PCR. A nested PCR targeting the internal transcribed region (ITS) was employed to characterize genotypes. The PCR products were sequenced, and the genetic diversity and relationships among the genotypes were identified using MEGA X and DnaSp (V5) software.

Results: Sixteen (30%) samples were positive for E. bieneusi using real-time PCR, and 11 (21%) were positive for nested PCR, which was sequenced. All 11 positive samples were identified as the BEB6 genotype (Group 2). The haplotype diversity was noted to be 0.182, and the nucleotide diversity, calculated using DnaSp, was 0. 00085.

Conclusion: The findings highlight the high prevalence of the genotype BEB6 in wild boars. The presence of this genotype suggests the circulation of E. bieneusi between domesticated animals and wild boars in Iran.

Background: Given the significant role of chitosan nanoparticles in medicine, the present study aimed to assess the in vivo efficacy of synthesized chitosan nanoparticles coated with thymol (CNCT) in combating Toxoplasma gondii infection.

Methods: Mice were administered CNCT orally at dosages ranging from 0.25 to 0.75 mg/kg/day for a duration of 14 days. Following this treatment, they were infected with T. gondii tachyzoites of the Rh strain to induce acute toxoplasmosis. Then, the mortality rate, parasite load, antioxidant activity, and the gene expression level of proinflammatory cytokines were evaluated.

Results: The dimensions of CNTN exhibit variability, with a mean size of 295 nm. The prophylactic administration of CNTN in mice infected with T. gondii resulted in a significant enhancement in survival rates and a considerable decrease in parasite load (P<0.001). The CNTN caused a significant decrease in malondialdehyde level, while a notable increase (P < 0.001) in the activity of the antioxidant enzymes. The feeding the mice infected with CNTN caused a meaningful elevation in the expression level of TNFα- and IL-1β (P<0.001). The biochemical analyses indicated no significant changes in the serum levels of liver and kidney function markers.

Conclusion: The recent study revealed that CNTN demonstrates promising in vivo effects against toxoplasmosis in murine models. These effects are attributed to its antioxidant properties and immunomodulatory capabilities, which increase specific pro-inflammatory cytokines without any noticeable signs of toxicity to liver and kidney function.

Background: Approximately 25% of hepatic hydatid cysts rupture into the biliary tract. The precise effect of bile within the cyst on protoscoleces remains unclear. We aimed to elucidate the effect of bile on protoscoleces.

Methods: The contents of hydatid cysts from the livers of three sheep were aspirated under sterile conditions. The aspirated contents were divided into 50 separate Eppendorf tubes (5 cc). Samples from each tube were stained with 0.1% eosin Y. Pink stained protoscoleces were considered dead under light microscopy (×100). A total of 100 protoscoleces were counted in each sample, and the number of live and dead protoscoleces was recorded. The tubes were randomly divided into five groups. Group 1 served as the control, Group 2 received normal saline (NS), Group 3, received hypertonic saline, Group 4 received bile, and Group 4 received diluted bile. The number of live and dead protoscoleces was recorded at the end of the first and second hours.

Results: Compared to the initial count of live protoscoleces, the number of live protoscoleces increased at hours 1 and 2 in Groups 2 and 4. No live protoscoleces remained at hours 1 and 2 in Group 3. There was no significant change in Group 5. When compared to the control group, a significant increase in viability was observed only in Group 4 (P=0.001).

Conclusion: Bile of sheep does not exhibit scolicidal effects; rather, it positively affects protoscoleces by increasing viability.

Background: Medicinal plants and their derivatives due to having high availability, low cost, low toxicity, and high efficacy are recognized as significant reservoirs of a diverse array of valuable therapeutic compounds. We aimed to investigate the lethal effects of carvone (CV) on protoscoleces of hydatid cyst, in laboratory and ex vivo conditions.

Methods: The protoscolicidal effects of CV were investigated both in vitro and ex vivo on hydatid cyst protoscoleces using the eosin exclusion assay. Furthermore, the impact of CV on the induction of apoptosis and DNA damage in the protoscoleces was assessed through a colorimetric protease assay and Real-time PCR analysis, respectively.

Results: CV, particularly at a concentration of 150 μg/ml, effectively eradicated protoscoleces of hydatid cysts within a 20-minute exposure period. Furthermore, CV exhibited sustained anti-parasitic effects in the ex vivo, leading to the complete elimination of hydatid cyst protoscoleces after a 30-minute exposure, in contrast to its immediate lethal effects observed in vitro. CV concentrations of 1/3 IC₅₀, 1/2 IC₅₀, and IC₅₀ (P < 0.001) resulted in caspase-3 activation levels of 11.3%, 19.8%, and 28.4%, respectively. The expression levels of the EgATM and EgP53 genes significantly upregulated after treatment with CV (P<0.001).

Conclusion: The findings demonstrated the potential of CV to eliminate protoscoleces by inducing apoptosis and causing DNA damage. However, further studies are required to clarify the specific mechanisms underlying its action and to assess its efficacy in clinical trials, which may facilitate the application of CV in the context of hydatid cyst surgical procedures.

Background: We aimed to determine the seroprevalence of Trichinella in horses in West Azerbaijan Province, Iran a region known for its wildlife interactions.

Methods: The study was conducted in March 2016 across four cities in West Azerbaijan: Urmia, Chaldoran, Sardasht, and Khoy, Iran. A total of 184 equines, ranging from three to over ten years of age, were randomly sampled. Blood samples were collected and were analyzed using the ID Screen® Trichinella Indirect Multi-species ELISA to detect antibodies.

Results: Of the 184 serum samples, 4 (4.3%) from northern counties and 2 (2.2%) from southern counties tested positive for trichinellosis. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests indicated no significant correlations between age, gender, or residential location and disease prevalence. The logistic regression model was not statistically significant (P = 0.754), revealing that these demographic factors do not substantially influence trichinellosis risk in the studied equines.

Conclusion: This study provides crucial insights into the low seroprevalence of Trichinella in horses in West Azerbaijan, suggesting that equines may not be primary reservoirs of the parasite despite overlapping habitats with infected wildlife.

Background: Theoretically, there is a possible association between emerging SARS-CoV-2 infection and parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii. We aimed to evaluate the seroepidemiology of T. gondii in COVID-19 patients and the control group as well as its correlation with risk factors.

Methods: Totally, 450 sera samples were taken from COVID-19 positive patients and controls from the Tehran, Karaj, and Shiraz cities, Iran. Anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM were evaluated using the ELISA technique. After two months, the participants were followed for recovery or non-recovery and even death. The association between seroprevalence and severity of viral infection as well as other risk factors was statistically estimated.

Results: IgG prevalence in patients and healthy individuals was 59.11% and 61.77%, respectively; these values were estimated at 2.22% and 0% for IgM, respectively. There was no significant association between the prevalence of IgG with COVID-19 infection, while this association was statistically significant for IgM prevalence. The Karaj had the highest prevalence, and a significant association was observed between the seroprevalence and some variables.

Conclusion: Despite the non-significant association between the chronic phase of T. gondii (sero) prevalence and COVID-19 symptomatic forms, the parasite prevalence was estimated remarkable and the viral infection and parasite-related acute phase antibodies relationship was estimated to be statistically significant. Due to immunosuppressive therapies for this viral inflammatory infection, it makes it more difficult to interpret the results, and because of the vulnerability of the immune system of these individuals, toxoplasmosis is likely to be hazardous in them; therefore, screening for this parasitic complication seems necessary.

Background: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common health issue during pregnancy and may be influenced by parasitic infections such as Blastocystis hominis. This study aims to assess the role of Blastocystis hominis infection as a potential risk factor for IDA in pregnant women.

Methods: A total of 208 pregnant women were enrolled in this cross-sectional study, including 98 women with IDA (case group) and 110 women without IDA (control group), conducted at Imam Reza and Ghaem Hospitals in Mashhad, Iran during 2022-2023. Hemoglobin and ferritin levels were measured in all participants, with anemia defined as hemoglobin <11 g/dL and ferritin <15 μg/L. Stool samples were collected from all participants to detect B. hominis and other parasitic infections using direct smear, formalin-ether concentration, and modified acid-fast staining methods. Statistical analyses were performed using independent samples t-test and chi-square test, with a significance level of P<0.05.

Results: The prevalence of B. hominis infection was significantly higher in the case group (38.8%) compared to the control group (10.9%) (P<0.001). Hemoglobin and ferritin levels were significantly lower in the case group (P<0.001). However, no significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of socioeconomic status, education, or occupation.

Conclusion: B. hominis infection may contribute to iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women. Screening for parasitic infections in anemic pregnant women, particularly B. hominis, could improve anemia management during pregnancy.

Background: Leishmania aethiopica is the leading cause of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Ethiopia. Different clinical manifestations might be related to host immunity, which itself can be influenced by the host's nutritional status. However, there is limited evidence that associates nutritional status with CL in Ethiopia. We investigated the relationship between clinical variables of CL and malnutrition.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in June 2024. Patient data was analyzed from those treated for CL and screened for nutrition from January 2022 to May 2024 at Tefera Hailu and Addis Zemen Primary Hospitals. Nutritional status was assessed through Anthropometric measurements.

Results: A total of 470 CL patients were treated, with a prevalence of 14.65/100, 000 population affected. Out of the total CL patients, 217 were assessed for nutrition, 22% were malnourished. Malnutrition was most prevalent in mucosal (30%) and recurrent cases (38.5%), compared to localized (20%) and new cases (21%) respectively.

Conclusions: Malnutrition might have the potential to shape the clinical manifestation and treatment outcome in CL patients. In CL endemic areas nutritional supplement with the treatment of CL could require for better patient outcome.

Background: We aimed to investigate the serological and molecular characteristics of Toxoplasma gondii infection among pregnant women and their aborted placentas in Meshkin-Shahr City during 2019-2020.

Methods: Blood samples of 210 pregnant women were evaluated for anti-T. gondii antibodies and related risk factors were determined. Also, the sera of aborted women and their buffy coats and aborted placenta tissues were used to detect anti-Toxoplasma antibodies and the parasite's DNA, respectively. The parasite genotypes were determined by the PCR-RFLP using the SAG3 gene.

Results: The overall prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG was 24.3% and only 1% of participants were seropositive for the IgM antibody. There was a significant relationship between raw or unwashed vegetable consumption, contact with soil, vegetable/fruit washing type, and seropositivity (P<0.05). During pregnancy, 4.7% of women encountered an abortion and 30% and 50% of cases were positive for IgG antibodies before and after abortion, respectively. Only two cases were IgM seropositive after abortion. In the avidity IgG test, 20% of cases showed low avidity. BLAST and phylogenetic analysis exhibited that all isolates belonged to the type III T. gondii genotype. Although two women with spontaneous abortions showed seropositivity for IgM T. gondii antibody, parasite DNA was detected in three cases.

Conclusion: The seroprevalence of Toxoplasma infection is not high in pregnant women. Seropositive women are not safe from congenital transmission. T. gondii type III is the etiology of fetus infection in mothers with spontaneous abortion. It seems that screening and essential care are still necessary during pregnancy.