صادق رهبری

Cryptosporidium parvum is a protozoan parasite which belongs to apicomplexa phylum. The parasite infects both wild and domesticated animals and human beings as well. The purpose of the present study was to detect oocyst shedding and diarrhea pattern in experimental cryptosporidiosis and their correlation with weight loss in neonatal calves. Twelve Holstein calves of both sexes were obtained at birth from dairy farm and randomly divided into two groups of 6 calves. Six calves were orally infected with 107 C. Parvum oocysts at the 12h post parturition. The control group was not infected. Clinical signs were examined and fecal samples were collected by the rectal examination twice a day. All calves were weighed from day 0 to day 30 with 3 days intervals to determine effects of cryptosporidiosis on weight gain. All infected calves were noticeably depressed and had a decreased appetite from 3 days post inoculation (DPI) while they received colostrum. Subsequently، watery diarrhea with clumps of mucus and yellow or pale changes of feces color were observed. The infected calves have had diarrhea for 5-8 days that remarkably had got dehydrated. The most severity of diarrhea was 4-6 DPI. Oocyst excretion started 4 DPI، peaked at 6 DPI (60. 48×106±9. 03oocysts/g feces) and continued until 11 DPI. Control calves had no diarrhea and other clinical signs during the whole period of the trial. The mean weight gain of control group was significantly higher than inoculated group during experiment (p<0. 001). The Weight of the infected calves was retarded until 9 days old and then risen subsequently. Present study showed the role of C. Parvum as the primary cause of diarrhea and weight loss among neonatal calves.

Chickens may be infected with parasitic, viral and bacterial infections. The aim of this study was to determine the fauna, prevalence and severity of internal and external parasites of Chickens inIlam. In this study, 60 chickens were necropsied. Internal organs, feather and leg skin chips were examined. Feather, leg skin chips, gastrointestinal tract and femur muscle was infected withparasites. The identification of Nematodes was possible after they were cleared inlactophenol and it was possible to identify the cestoda after schneider acetocarmine staining. Isolated parasites from the feather, feathers follicle and leg skin chips were prepared and then examined. To distinguish blood and mucosal parasites, 2 smears and 1cc blood was taken from wing vein. Femur muscle was examined by dob smear while cecum, small and large intestine were smeared and then all were stained with geimsa. A smear from the trachea, trachea bifurcate, and the end of large intestine was prepared and then stained with Ziehl-Neelsen method. Prevalence and fauna of cestoda include: Raillietina echinobothrida 26.6%, Raillietina tetragona 26.6%, Raillietina cesticillus 13.3%, Choanotaenia infundibulum16.6%, Cotugnia digonopora 5. .Nematoda, Acuaria spiralis3.3%, Cheilospirura hamulosa 1.6%, Ascaridia galli 30% , Heterakis gallinarum 16.6%, and external parasites: Menopongallinae 55%, Goniodes spp. 18.3%, Lipeurus caponis 53.3% Menacanthus stramineus 58.3%, Goniocotes gallinae 81.6%, Cnemidocoptes mutans 23.3%, Grallobia spp. 33.3%. In non fecal protozoa, 1case of an unknown sarcocyct zoite was collected from femur muscle.

Ovine anaplasmosis is a tick-borne rickettsial disease، widespread in tropical and subtropical areas. In the present study، a PCR-RFLP method based on major surface protein 4 (MSP4) gene، was utilized for the detection of Anaplasma infection in 119 sheep blood samples collected from different parts of Ahvaz in the southwest of Iran. PCR identified Anaplasma infections in 87. 4% (104/119) of the samples in contrast to the routine blood smear examination، which revealed inclusion bodies in only 33. 6% (40/119) of samples. RFLP assessment revealed that all PCR positive samples were A. ovis، while for the first time in Iran، a mixed infection with A. marginale was seen in 50% (52/104) of Anaplasma infected samples. These results suggest higher sensitivity of PCR method over the conventional microscopic technique for diagnosis of anaplasmosis، particularly in carrier animals. It also revealed that ovine anaplasmosis caused by A. ovis and A. marginale is present and highly prevalent in Ahvaz and appears to be the first report from this region.

Lyme borreliosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease caused by spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex. There are no reports on this subject in dogs from Iran. Determining the serologic prevalence level of produced antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex in three Caspian littoral provinces of Iran and studying the effect of climatic risk factors on it are the first aims of this study. During the period from July to September 2009 a seroepidemiological study was conducted on 273 dogs in three Caspian provinces of Guilan, Mazandaran and Golestan, Iran's known habitats of tick (Ixodes ricinus). In order to study the correlation between infection distribution and climatic factors by geographic information system (GIS), geographic position of seronegative and seropositive dogs was overlaid on climatic maps of Guilan, Mazandaran and Golestan provinces. Multivariate regression model and correlation matrix analyses were used for statistical analysis. From 273 serum samples in the whole studied area, 22 (8.1%) showed antibodies against B. burgdorferi sensu lato complex. The seroprevalence of B. burgdorferi sensu lato in provinces of Guilan, Mazandaran and Golestan were 0.0% (0.91), 2.2% (2.91) and 22% (20.91), respectively. Mean annual temperature had positive and significant correlation with B. burgdorferi sensu lato complex seroprevalence in sampled dogs of the three north provinces (p<0.05). Regarding the seroprevalence of Lyme borreliosis in dogs of three Caspian provinces of Iran, more attention must be paid to this disease, especially in Golestan province. This is the first study on the role of climatic factors in canine Lyme borreliosis in Iran.

On the base on published reports by parasitologists، clinicians and executive and health authorities، parasitic infections of ruminants of Iran were divided to four groups including: high، medium، low and very low significant based on pathogenesis، prevalence rate and portability. Results showed that totally 27 infections including: 16 helminthes، 8 protozoa and 3 acarins were reported in ruminants of Iran. Moreover، 9 helminthes، 4 protozoa and 3 acarins of them was zoonotic. Accurate and rapid diagnosis، establishment of specific laboratories for important infections، using GPS for faster information about infected centers، use of rapid response plan، strategic control and treatment of parasitic infections، use of new generation vaccines، tracking method of animal''s resistance against anti parasitic drugs، their bio control and implementation of the relevant international guidelines are necessitate for foresight control of above-mentioned parasites.

Increasing resistance against conventional anticoccidial drugs and the consequence of their residues has paid the attention toward more effective and safe compounds. Artemisia plant is a potential candidate that its anticoccidial effect has been previously discussed. This study aimed to produce a granule from the extract of Artemisia siberi and evaluate its anticcocidial effects compared to pure Atremisinin. Artemisinin was extracted from Artemisia by petroleum ether and then formulated into a wet granule. Experimental coccidiosis was induced in chicks (n=75) by oral administration of 250000 oocysts/chick. chicks were divided into 5 groups of three replicates each (n=15) and one uninfected group (n=15). The infected chicks were treated by oral administration (1mg/kg) of pure artemisinin and granule formulation with three different doses (1, 2.5 and 5mg/kg artemisinin) as feed additive. The treatment was conducted for 5 successive days towever. The fifth infected group and uninfected group did not receive any medication. At the end of treatment, fecal samples of each group were collected for 5 days and the OPG (oocyst per gram) was determined as anticoccidial index. The granule formulation of Artemisia and pure artemisinin significantly (p<0.001) decreased the OPG values in treated groups (30% in treated groups Vs 8% in control). However, there wasnt significant difference between granule formulation and pure artemisinin on OPG reduction (30.39% and 30.35%, respectively). This study showed that the Artemisia siberi granulated extract can be considered as a new effective and safe anticoccidial drug.

Sarcocyst is a world wide zoonosis that infects many humans and animals. From the point of view of health and economy, it has a large amount of loss for many countries. The parasit is one of the most common in many wild mammalians, birds, poikilotherms and humans. Some of them causes sever or fatal diseases in their intermediate hosts. In this study, the rate of infection to sarcocyst has been investigated in sheep by two Methods macroscopic anddiagestiv method,in the slaughterhouse of Borujerd township. One hundared and eighty of sheep were randomly selected during two stages in three cities: borujerd, khoramabad and poldokhtar. at first stage, oesophagus, diaphragm, heart, scapular and femoral muscles have been inspected that in total 37% from of them had the cyst. second stage, the parts were tested by diagestiv method(pepsin: 2.5 grams; chlorous acid: 10 cc; phosphare-buffered saline 100cc) then the smears were prepared by gimsa staining. The specimen including bradyzoite considered as the positive. In conclution, 191 sample had bradyzoite. the study showed significant differences in two methods(P<0.01). Microscopicalmethod were sensitive rather than macroscopic methods relatively.

In this study 384 serum samples from dogs of Sarab district was prepared, and wereexamined by using Elisa, and IFA serological tests. Seroprevalence rate (SPR) of CVL instudied dogs with the Elisa and IFA,. The highest number of infected dogs between threeyear old dogs (25.7%) and the lowest number of infection between one year old dogs(2.9%) were respectively 306 (79.7%) male dogs, and 78 (20.3%) were female. Twentyeight (9.2%) male dogs and seven (9.0%) female dogs were seropositive. statisticallysignificant correlation between age, and infection was observed (p=0.332). 9 (23.2%)dogs showed at least one positive clinical symptom, including cutaneous ulcers, hair loss,Impotence, Onicocriptosis, local or general lymphadenopathy, Keratitis,Hepatosplenomegaly and diarrhea. 4 (17.4%) from symptomatic dogs and 31 dogs (8.6%)of asymptomatic were positive had no symptoms of visceral leishmaniasis. Thestatistically significant correlation between visceral leishmaniasis, and hair lost dogs wereobserved (p=0.031). No Significant correlation between visceral leishmaniasis andhepatosplenomegaly was seen (p=0.065). Between symptomatic and asymptomatic dogswith visceral leishmaniasis significant relationship was observed (p=0.015). In this studyantibody titers in male dogs greater than female dogs that difference was statisticallysignificant (p=0.023). The highest rate of infection rate was in dogs from Jalda Bakhanvillage with 9 (33.35%) dogs, and lowest infection rate was in Asbfroshan village with 1(1.4%) dogs. Recommended for control of visceral leishmaniasis in the region,Considering the different animal reservoirs, and various geographical animal conditions inthis area and regarding the zooonotic parasite controlling the animal reservoirs, seemsunavoidable, and fight against the vector mosquito and controlling plans are necessary.

This study was carried out from March 2007 to March2008 in order to determine the role of litter in diagnosis of parasitic infection of poultry in Golestan province, Iran. In this study 50 litter samples of native poultry and 50 from those of industrial broiler were examined. Flotation method was applied to determine OPG and EPG, eggs of 3 species of nematode were identified in 48% of litter samples of native fowl including: Ascaridia galli (44%), Heterakis gallinarum (18%) and Capillaria spp (32%) and 2 species of nematode in those of 8% of industrial poultry: Ascaridia galli (8%) and Heterakis gallinarum (4%). No oocyst was found in native fowl litter, whereas 36% of industrial poultry litters harbored three species of Eimeria as follow: E. tenella, E. acervulina, E. maxima. Free living oribatid mites were collected from 100% 0f industrial poultry litters and non from native one. It seems likely that the origin of helminth infections of poultry is native fowl and examination of the litter is an easy, cheap and rapid method for diagnosis of poultry parasitic infections.

This study was done to determine the prevalence of Zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (ZVL) in wild canines around the city of Sarab and the possible association between infection in wild canines and people during 2009-2010. In this study 10 serum samples from foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and two serum samples from wolves (Canis lupus) were prepared. Samples were examined in the parasitology laboratory of Tabriz Medical University using Elisa and IFA serological tests. Only one fox of 10 with IFA and ELISA tests was seropositive. The IFA titre was greater than or equal to 1:1280 and amount of light absorption in ELISA equal to 2.127 and percent of samples (S/P%)=138%. The fox had specific symptoms of disease including cutaneous ulcers, hair loss, Impotence, Onicocriptosis, local or general lymphadenopathy, Keratitis and Hepatosplenomegaly. In slides prepared from impression smear of liver and spleen Leishman body was observed and culture results were positive. In this study the two wolves were not seropositive and the result of culture was negative. Parasites isolated from seropositive fox were tested with specific primers of k-DNA using PCR and indicated 99% homology with complex Donovani (L.infantum, L.donovani, L. Chagasi).

Cryptosporidiosis is a parasitic disease caused by protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium and leads to an acute and/or chronic gastroenteritis. The disease appears as a self-limiting infection in immunocompotent person, but it causes a chronic disease and extra-intestinal infection, which finally leading to death in immunocompromised patients. With respect to the prevalence of infected immunodeficient patients worldwide and in Iran, there is a need for modeling cryptosporidiosis in laboratory animals.

Samples were collected from human and animal stools, centrifuged by Paraseb kit, and smear was prepared and assessed with acid fast staining method. After identification of oocysts, it was separated, and concentrated by sucrose floatation. Balb/c and C57bl/6 mice were immunosuppressed by intraperitoneal dexamethasone injection, the immonusuppression was confirmed by lymphocyte proliferation assay, and finally cryptosporidium oocysts were orally inoculated into inbred mice. Having proved the infection, the animals were humanely killed and the target organs including lungs, liver, intestine and spleen were collected, stained with hematoxyline & eosine method and examine for histopathological effects of the organism in samples.

The results of lymphocyte proliferation assay showed that the C57bl/6 mice were more immunesuppressed than the Balb/c one; which facilitate them to be more susceptible to the infection than Balb/c mice. Therefore, the majority (80%) of C57bl/6 mice infected with cryptosporidium oocysts and 40% of them died, whereas only 20% of Balb/c mice were infected and none of them died due to infection. No histopathological alterations were observed in H&E stained sections of liver, spleen, lung and intestine in control and test groups. Moreover, no infection was detected in impression smears.

This study is the first report of experimental cryptosporidiosis and modeling of infection in immunodeficiency in laboratory animals in Iran. The findings indicated that immunosuppressed C57bl/6 mice were more susceptible to Cryptosporidium infection than Balb/c ones. No extra-intestinal infection was detected in study groups, which may be due to short period of infection in experimental animals.

Hypodermosis is myiasis of Hypoderma fly. Cattle and goats are specific hosts of this fly. The survey carried out in Isfahan abattoir for determining the rate of infestation and affection with consideration of age and sex in cattle and goats. For this purpose، in Cattle، the outer surface of skin، the inner surface of skin، esophageal submucosa and spinal canal and in goat، the outer surface of carcass and the inner surface of skin were examined for larvae of hypoderma. In this survey، 294 of cattle were examined and only one animal showed infestation with Hypoderma bovis L1، which observed in the spinal canal، in February and it was from Fereydonshahr area. Another one affected with Hypoderma lineatum L3 observed in June، which was from Zarrinshahr area. The time of the fly activity in Fereydonshahr and Zarrinshahr was determined early and late in summer respectively. In this survey، no Hypderma larvae observed in esophagus of examined animals. In cattle، with respect to the time of the fly activity، in two mentioned areas، the best time for using systemic larvicides to control of infestation is estimated in early and middle of autumn for Fereydonshahr and Zarrinshahr areas respectively. From 294 examined goats، 151 (51. 3%) cases were affected. In three seasons، summer، autumn and winter، 39 39. 7%)، 106 (63. 8%) and 6 (60%) affected goats were observed respectively. In goats، the minimum of affection (35. 4%) was observed in September and the maximum of affection (71. 1%) was observed in December. Statistically، there was a significant relationship (p<0. 05) between the increase of age and affection rate in goats. In terms of observing the larvae under skin of goats in Shahreza and Fereydonshahr areas، the best time for using of systemic larvicides at these areas is determined in late summer and early of spring respectively.