mehdi sharif

Trichostrongylus is an intestinal parasite that is highly prevalent in humans and livestock worldwide. There is limited information about the prevalence and epidemiology of Trichostrongylus species among the infected livestock in Mazandaran Province, northern Iran. This study aimed to identify Trichostrongylus spp. among small ruminants using morphometric and molecular methods.

Small intestinal organs of sheep and goats, slaughtered in Mazandaran Province, were examined for infectivity with Trichostrongylus parasites. Primary species identification was conducted based on the morphological characterization of the male worms. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) II regions of the ribosomal DNA of the worm tissues were amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay and then the product was subjected to sequencing. Subsequently, the PCR products of the ITS II region were subjected to digestion by HinfI and DraI restriction enzymes using the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).

Of 180 samples, 98 (54.44%) were confirmed positive for Trichostrongylus based on the conventional PCR. The digestion of the PCR products with HinfI and DraI facilitated the identification of three Trichostrongylus species, namely Trichostrongylus colubriformis (35%, 90.81%), Trichostrongylus axei (4%, 4.08%), and Trichostrongylus vitrinus (5%, 5.1%). Both morphometric and RFLP techniques resulted in the differentiation of the three Trichostrongylus species.

The present study was the 1st attempt in the last 30 years for the identification of Trichostrongylus species in small ruminants in Mazandaran Province. The findings of this study can be helpful for epidemiological and ecological studies, the establishment of effective control programs, and the management of gastrointestinal parasites in Mazandaran Province.

In this review, we intend to provide a summary of the activities of researchers in the field of Toxoplasma gondii in Iran, during the past 70 years. Most studies have been limited to epidemiological studies (mostly using ELISA and IFA methods). Designing a standard and reliable method using the specific antigens of this parasite is essential. So far, studies in the field of drug effects have not been able to introduce an effective drug with few side effects. Various types of vaccines have been developed, such as recombinant and DNA vaccines. However, none of them had a good efficacy. The use of multi-epitope vaccines as potential vaccines against toxoplasmosis is recommended. At present, limited studies have been conducted on the patterns of transmission and genetic diversity of isolated isolates in Iran. Future research to determine the genotype of T. gondii could play an important role in the study of population structure, and biological characteristics of this parasite. It is hoped that the results of this study will help control, prevent, and reduce the burden of disease caused by this parasite.

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic obligatory intracellular protozoan parasite that infects a wide range of warm-blooded species. This study aimed to obtain further information on the role of T. gondii infection in ruminant abortion (sheep, goats and cattle) using bioassay and PCR methods in Mazandaran province, northern Iran.

Overall, 104 aborted fetuses (52 bovine, 48 ovine, 4 caprine) were collected at different stages of gestation during the lambing seasons in various parts of Mazandaran Province from Mar 2016 to May 2017. Brains of 104 aborted fetuses were bioassayed in female BALB/c mice. DNA was extracted from all brain samples using phenol-chloroform-isoamyl Alcohol instructions. RE gene was used for detection all of T. gondii DNA by conventional PCR assay.

The results of the bioassayed samples were negative because no tachyzoites or cyst were observed in the peritoneal and brain specimens of the mice. The detection of T. gondii DNA was confirmed by observation of a 529 bp band in 15 out of 104 fetuses (14.4%). The highest prevalence rate of T. gondii detected from sheep (16.6%) followed by cattle (13.4%) and goats (0%). The highest prevalence of the infection was observed in east area, while the lowest prevalence of the infection was observed in west area.

T. gondii infection may partly be responsible for abortion and economic losses in livestock husbandry in this region. Therefore, further additional researches such as genotyping T. gondii and designing control strategies for improving management in livestock flocks are necessary.

Cryptosporidium spp. is a major cause of gastrointestinal illness in humans. There are no data available on geospatial distribution of Cryptosporidium spp. in the Mazandaran Province, Iran. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the spatial patterns and demographic factors associated with Cryptosporidium spp. infection in the Mazandaran Province, North of Iran.

Fecal specimens were collected from diarrheic individuals (n=215) who were referred to health centers in the Mazandaran Province during 2014-2015. The specimens were examined for presence of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts by Ziehl-Neelsen acid-fast staining.

  Cities of Sari, Neka, Noshahr and Behshahr were identified as disease hotspots. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection was significantly higher in subjects under 10 years of age as well as those living in low-altitude areas and rural areas without access to standard water sources.

Our findings and the GIS-derived data could be used to facilitate cryptosporidiosis surveillance and monitoring of Cryptosporidium spp. distribution in the study area.

Human Echinococcosisis a cyclo-zoonotic infection caused by tapeworms of the Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto complex. The detection of mitochondrial genome data of genus Echinococcus can reflect the taxonomic status, genetic diversity, and population structure genetics.

Totally, 52 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples from patients with histologically confirmed CE were collected from Mazandaran province, Iran in the period of Mar 1995 to May 2018. All extracted DNAs from (FFPE) tissue samples were subjected to amplify by polymerase chain reactions method targeting cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene. All PCR amplicons were sequenced to phylogenetic analysis and genetic diversity.

Molecular analysis showed that 50(96.1%) and 2 (3.84%) isolates were identified as G1 andG3 E. granulosus genotypes, respectively. DNA sequence analyses indicated a high gene diversity for G1 (Haplotype diversity: 0.830) and G3 genotypes (Hd: 1.00). Based on multiple sequence alignment analyses, 7 (13.46%; G1 genotype) and 2 (3.84%; G3 genotype) new haplotypes were unequivocally identified.

G3 genotype (Buffalo strain) was identified from two human hydatidosis isolates in the region. Present study strengthens our knowledge about taxonomic status, transmission patterns of Echinococcus parasite to human and heterogeneity aspects of this parasite in clinical CE isolates of Northern Iran.

Intestinal parasitic infections are a major public health problem worldwide, especially in developing countries. It is estimated that around 3.5 billion people are infected with intestinal parasites. Human intestinal parasites (HIP) are clinically important due to broad epidemiological distribution, reinfection and drug resistance. In the last decades, bioactive compounds from herbs were used against a wide variety of microorganisms including parasites. We aimed to perform a systematic review on studies on the effects of medicinal herbs on HIPs in Iran.

Relevant scientific publications until April, 2015 were extracted from five English databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, Ebsco, Science Direct and Scopus) and four Persian databases (Magiran, Irandoc, IranMedex and the Scientific Information Database).

A total of 18 papers and two dissertations met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 22 different plant extracts were used against Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica, Cryptosporidium and Hymenolepis nana. Based on the results, the extracts could exert time- and dose-dependent inhibitory effects against the tested HIPs. Five plants types including Allium, Chenopodium botrys, Carum copticum, F. asafoetida and Artemisia annua were able to completely inhibit the tested parasites, while Thymus vulgaris and A. paradoxum showed the lowest inhibitory effect (7%).

Given the findings, it is recommended to conduct in vivo studies on medicinal herbs with favorable in vitro effects against HIPs.

The gas mobility control is one of the main challenges during gas injection. It causes early gas break through and decreases the sweep efficiency due to low viscosity. In this study, the small molecule thickener (P-1-D, MW=910 g/mol) was used to improve the CO2 mobility control at reservoir conditions. The small molecule thickener can dissolved in gas without any co-solvent. It leads to the small molecule thickeners which may be used to the EOR field application in comparison with high molecular thickeners. The cloud point pressures were calculated to ensure that the single phase condition has occurred between CO2 and gas thickener. In addition, the effect of gas thickener on CO2 viscosity was investigated for 5000, 10000, 30000, 50000, 80000, and 100000 ppm P-1-D concentrations. Moreover, the impact of P-1-D thickener on interfacial tension (IFT) was studied. The results illustrated that the cloud point pressure for gas and CO2 thickener decreased by increasing in P-1-D concentrations and all of these are below the reservoir pressure. Also, the gas thickener increased the CO2 viscosity 15.7 fold for 80000 ppm concentration which can improve the gas mobility control. Finally, the IFT decreased in presence of the gas thickener which can provide the miscibility condition for at least 10000 ppm concentration.

Soil is one of the environmental sources of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts. The other hand, genotype of the parasite is one of the important factors for its pathogenicity. Due to the importance of toxoplasmosis on public health, this study aimed to isolation and genotyping of T. gondii in environmental soil samples of Mazandaran Province, north of Iran.

Overall, 192 soil samples were collected from different areas in Mazandaran Province from Apr to Sep 2014. The flotation method was used for recovering oocysts. Then, soil samples were investigated for DNA detection of T. gondii using nested PCR of RE gene, genotyping with Semi-nested PCR of GRA6 gene and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. Results were analyzed using Chi-squared test. A significant difference was considered with a P<0.05.

From 192 soil samples, T. gondii DNA was detected in 150 samples (78.1%). Then genotype of 23 samples was determined (91.3% type I and 8.7% type II).

Prevalence of T. gondii in soil samples of Mazandaran province, north of Iran is high and T. gondii GRA6 type I is predominant. Soil can be the most important source of severe toxoplasmosis in this province.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the current knowledge on the epidemiology of importance zoonotic parasitic diseases in free-ranging canids of Mazandaran, north of Iran.

Overall, 63 small intestinal samples of animals (20 stray dogs and 43 golden jackals) were collected from April 2017 to May 2018. The intestine contents were studied to detect and identify helminth infections. Additionally, 274 fecal samples (130 dogs, 35 fox, 90 golden jackal and 19 wolf) were examined by Sheather's flotation method for detection of Taenia eggs.

Sixty (95.2%) animals were infected with at least one species of intestinal helminth. the intestinal helminths were found in dogs and golden jackals included: Dipylidium caninum (25.3%), Uncinaria stenocephala (52.3%), Ancylostoma caninum (41.2%), Mesocestoides spp. (33.3%) and Toxocara canis (14.2%). In fecal examination, 2.5% of samples contained Taenia eggs, and through a species-specific PCR, 1.09% of these samples were confirmed positive for Echinococcus granulosus.

There is a high prevalence and clear risks of zoonotic helminths in free-ranging carnivores in Mazandaran province, north of Iran. Therefore, understanding the epidemiology of zoonotic parasite infection is useful for health care access both domestic animals and humans health.

is one of the most common improved oil recovery method in the world. High residual oil saturation at the end of this method is due to low macroscopic sweep efficiency and viscous fingering. It can be improved by the mobility control during polymer solution injection. In this study, by of silica/ the effect of it on IFT, viscosity, and was investigated. In addition, the performance of in high salinity water was studied by using nano particles. The zeta potential results show that the stability of polymer solution was enhanced in of nano particles in high salinity water condition. Also, the lowest IFT was obtained for contained 1 percent nano silica (18.34 ), and the most tendency to water wet conditions was provided for this concentration. In addition to, 1 percent nano silica/ has the best performance on formation water viscosity and improved the mobility ratio to 1.07, which it can increase the oil recovery.

Wild boars (Sus scrofa) are distributed worldwide and found in many parts of Iran. Although S. scrofa is reservoirs for many parasites, there is little data on helminthic prevalence in them. We aimed to survey the status of helminthic infections in S. scrofa in the Mazandaran Province of northern Iran. Twenty-one wild boars were captured and examined for helminth infection during Dec 2012-Mar 2014. Adult worms such as Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus were identified by helminth size and shape, and the arrangement of the proboscis hooks. The sedimentation and flotation techniques were used to detect parasite eggs and larvae in faecal samples. Muscle samples were also surveyed for Trichinella larvae by artificial digestion method. Of the 21 samples, 13 (61.9%) were infected with one or more helminth species. Seven helminth types were identified in the alimentary track, comprising 5 nematodes, 1 trematode, and 1 acanthocephalan, with prevalence rates of Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus (57.14%), Globocephalus spp. (33.33%), Trichuris suis (19.04), Gongylonema pulchrum (14.28%), Fasciola hepatica (14.28%), Dioctophyma renale (4.76%), and Ascaris suum (4.76%). Wild boars might be involved in transmitting zoonotic parasites to humans. The abundance of these animals near human habitation creates favorable conditions for infection. So the risk of parasitic helminth diseases increases in other animals and humans.

Intestinal parasites are the most common causes of gastrointestinal disease in canine. Stray dogs and wild candies can represent potential reservoirs of enteropathogens to other hosts. Therefore, present study determined the prevalence of intestinal parasites in canine in Mazandaran Province, northern, Iran.
Overall, 58 small intestinal samples of animals (42 stray dogs and 16 jackals) were collected from Oct 2012 to Dec 2013. The intestine contents were studied to detect and identify helminth infections. Then, the helminths were collected and their morphological traits were identified.
Overall among infected stray dogs and jackals, 11 species were found. Three species of nematodes, seven species of cestodes and one trematode were observed. The prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths of stray dogs and jackals were 59.5% and 50%, respectively. Among registered zoonotic helminths A. caninum was the predominant parasite both stray dogs and jackals. Interestingly, Spirometra spp. was reported in these animals. Moreover, A. caninum showed a higher percentage rate in center region of province.
There are the clear risks of zoonotic helminths parasites infection in this region. Therefore, understanding the epidemiology of zoonotic parasite infection is useful for health care access both domestic animals and humans health.

Background and Dicrocoeliasis is a prevalent parasite in ruminants caused by different species of Dicrocoelium spp. This parasite lives in bile duct and gallbladder of ruminants and accidentally in human. The economic significance of dicroceliasis is due to direct damage to the liver and, consequently, to the loss of significant amounts of protein. The present study aimed to investigate the morphometric and molecular (PCR and PCR-RFLP) parameters of Dicrocoelium species isolates from sheep, goat, and cattle in Mazandaran province, Iran during 2013-2015.
In this descriptive study, 50 trematodes isolated from livers of sheep (n= 20), goat (n= 20), and cattle (n= 10) were collected form abattoirs in Mazandaran province. Adult worms were studied by morphometric and molecular methods on 28s rDNA. The RFLP technique was used to identify the genus. Some samples were also sequenced.
All isolates of three hosts (sheep, goat, and cattle) showed significant differences in many morphological parameters. According to characterization of testicles that is a remarkable characteristic for differential diagnosis of Dicrocoelium species, they were in tandem position in all isolates. Moreover, no significant difference was observed in their size in different hosts. Four bands, including 116, 145, 393, and 409 bp were produced from PCR method after treatment by enzyme. In molecular technique, there were no any significant differences but in morphometric analysis, some differences were found.
The molecular and morphometric results indicated that D. dendriticum is the only species infecting sheep, goat, and cattle in Mazandaran province.

Background and Wild boars (Sus scrofa) are potential reservoirs for a lot of zoonotic diseases, so it is possible to transmit these infections to wild and domestic animals and also humans. This research aimed to survey the protozoan prevalence of Sus scrofa in Mazandaran Province, North of Iran.
In a descriptive cross-sectional study a total of 21 wild boars was captured beween December 2012 and March 2014. Faeces collected from the intestinal tracts of each animal was placed in appropriate fixative. Temporary staining with Lugol’s solution was performed in order to find the protozoan cysts and trophozoites. The stool samples were further studied using sedimentation and flotation methods. Then, fixed stool smears were examined by trichrome and Ziehl–Neelsen staining.
There were 21 samples of which 12 (57.14%) were found to be infected with one or more protozoan species. The prevalence of contamination with intestinal protozoan was as follows: 33.33% trophozoites and cysts of Balantidium coli, 28.57% oocysts of Eimeria spp., and 9.52% cysts of Giardia spp.
According to current findings, wild boars in Mazandaran province are infected with a lot of zoonotic protozoan, which create potential risks for other animals and people in the region.

Raw (fresh) vegetables are an important ingredient of healthy diet. Many enteric bacterial, parasitic and viral pathogens could be transmitted by vegetables. Mazandaran province is located in northern Iran with a coastal area and extensive fields for vegetable cultivation. The current study is designed to evaluate the parasitic contamination of fresh vegetables.
A total of 150 samples of fresh vegetables obtained from markets were examined for parasitic infections using standard methods.
Out of 104 samples (60.3%) were contaminated with parasites. Parsley and radish with prevalence rates of 90% (18/20) and 39.1% (9/23) were the most and least contaminated vegetables. Free living larva and Trichostrongylus were the most and least common parasites in our results.
It can be concluded that parasitological contamination of raw vegetables may be a health threat to consumers of such products.

Background and So far, several studies have been done on the prevalence of intestinal parasites in Mazandaran province, Iran, but no comprehensive study used Geographic Information System (GIS) to investigate all effective factors on the epidemiology of these parasites. The aim of this study was to investigate the intestinal parasites in people residing in West of Mazandaran province using GIS.
This study was conducted in 1120 individuals attending the health centers in West of Mazandaran province. The samples were analyzed using direct methods, formalin - ether, trichrome staining, and modified acid fast. Data analysis was done in SPSS V18 and Arc GIS 9.3.
The prevalence of intestinal parasites was 12.8% in the population studied. The most prevalent protozoa were Blastocystis hominis (5.8%) and among helminthic infections Strongyloides stercoralis (0.53%) were found to be more prevalent. Statistical analysis showed a significant relationship between the prevalence of intestinal parasites and geographic and demographic risk factors including location, drinking water, income level, temperature, and altitude. Prevalence mapping showed Tonekabon as a high-risk region for intestinal parasites.
Temperature and altitude along with demographic factors play an important role in the spread of parasitic diseases. Water purification system, improving sanitation in high risk areas, and basic health training especially in rural areas can help in decreasing the rate of this public health problem.

Background and Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica are common liver flukes which affect both human and livestock worldwide. In this study we evaluated the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for detection and discrimination of Fasciola species.
Fifty adults of Fasciola worms were isolated from sheep and cattle liver form abattoirs in Mazandaran province. A total of 8 primer sets for LAMP was designed to amplify the 28S ribosomal RNA gene of Fasciola sp. Conventional LAMP was carried out in a 20µI reaction mixture under isothermal condition at 60°C for 90 minutes. Amplification result was observed by monitoring the turbidity by naked-eye, using fluorescent dye and gel electrophoresis. The specificity of LAMP method for detecting Fasciola sp. was tested by amplification of Dicrocoelium dendriticum, Trichostrongylus colubriformis, and Echinococcus granulosus DNA templates. To evaluate the detection limit of LAMP assay in detecting Fasciola genus, serial dilution of the extracted DNA was used.
A positive LAMP reaction by the specific primers of two species produced many bands of different sizes in 600C after 90 min. The optimal assay conditions were established with no reaction with other parasites’ DNA. The detection limit of this LAMP assay was 1 pg DNA/tube. The result of turbidity and fluorescent dye detection were consistent with agarose gel electrophoresis.
Our results demonstrated that LAMP is a rapid, cost-effective, highly specific, easy, and reliable method for differentiation of Fasciola sp. in epidemiological and clinical researches on human and domestic animals in endemic regions of fasciolosis.

Background and Despite increasing awareness and developments in community health, intestinal parasitic infections are still a problem. There is no accurate statistics about the prevalence rate of intestinal parasites in west of Mazandaran province. The aim of this article was to investigate the present prevalence of intestinal parasites and survey of their risk factors in this region.
A cross-sectional research was carried out in 880 individuals attending rural and urban health centers in west of Mazandaran (Ramsar, Tonekabon and Chalus). Written consents were obtained and fecal specimens were collected from each person and tested by direct methods, formalin-ether, trichrome, and acid fast staining.
The overall prevalence rate of intestinal parasitic infections was 13.8%. The prevalence rate of parasites in males and females were 6.5% (n=65) and 8.1% (n=56), respectively. The following parasitic infections were found: Blastocystishominis (6.3%), Giardia intestinalis (4.5%), Cryptosporidium (0.2%), Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (0.5%), Entamoeba coli (0.9%), Chilomastixmesnili (0.1%), Iodamoeba butchlii (0.2%), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.6%), Taenia saginata (0.2%), and Hookworm (0.1%). Also, mixed infection with Giardia and E.coli was observed in in one sample (0.1%).
The prevalence rate of intestinal parasites in Mazandaran province was reduced compared to the rates reported in previous studies. This might be due to increasing awareness of people, improved environmental health and wastewater treatment, and reducing parasitic contamination of vegetables.

Toxoplasmosis is considered as one of the most common infectious diseases caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Tachyzoite is the main form of Toxoplasma and continuously is maintained in cell culture or injected into the mice peritoneal cavity. This study was designed to evaluate the survival rate of RH strain of T. gondii tachyzoites in different cell free, nutrient and biological media at different temperatures.
This experimental study was performed at the Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran, in 2010. One ml of each solution including hypotonic saline (0.3%), normal saline (0.85%), RPMI-1640 (RPMI), RPMI with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), RPMI with 20% FBS, ovine hydatid cyst fluid, pasteurized milk of cow, and phosphate buffered saline (PBS) along with 4×104 T. gondii tachyzoites were added to plate wells and incubated in 4 °C, 22 °C, 37 °C, and 37 °C under 5% CO2. The survival rate and viability as­sessment of parasites were performed daily and the results were analyzed using Univariate tests.
Tachyzoites survival rate in PBS (4 °C) and normal saline (4 °C) were con­siderably high, compared to other solutions in different conditions (P This study introduces two available and economical solutions, PBS (4 °C) and normal saline (4 °C) media, for maintenance of Toxoplasma tachyzoites as appropriate choice media for a noticeable period of time (11 days) in vitro.

Toxoplasmosis is a public health problem worldwide. This complication principally affects immunodeficient patients and pregnant women. Toxoplasma gondii is an opportunistic parasite, causing severe illness among and death of high-risk individuals and treatment is becoming increasingly difficult owing to side effects and low efficacies of drugs. In this study, we investigated the anti-Toxoplasma gondii efficacy of propranolol in vivo. This study was performed in two separate pre-treatment and post-treatment groups. In each group, 18 female Balb/c mice in six subgroups (n = 3) were used to assess the anti-Toxoplasma effect of propranolol at 2 and 3 mg/kg/day, pyrimethamine at 50 mg/kg/day, propranolol at 2 and 3 mg/kg/day plus pyrimethamine, and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS; as negative control). Treatment was performed 4, 24, and 48 hours before and after an intraperitoneal challenge of 1 × 103 tachyzoites of the virulent RH strain of T. gondii, in pre-treatment and post-treatment groups. Mice peritoneal exudates were collected on the seventh day after the challenge and parasite numbers were recorded as percent of growth inhibition and survival rate. In the pre-treatment group, results showed that propranolol at 2 and 3 mg/kg combined with pyrimethamine was more effective in inhibiting growth of tachyzoites (86% and 98%, respectively) when compared with propranolol at 2 and 3 mg/kg (37% and 39%, respectively) and pyrimethamine (41%) alone. In the post-treatment group, all combined treatments significantly reduced parasite load. The growth inhibition of tachyzoites in mice receiving propranolol (2 and 3 mg/kg) was 75% and 51%, with the mean tachyzoites count being 1526 ± 171.4 and 2948 ± 1452.8, respectively, compared with pyrimethamine treatment outcome, which represents 99.9% growth inhibition. Our results demonstrated the promising prophylactic and therapeutic effects of propranolol against T. gondii infection. Propranolol also increases the efficacy of pyrimethamine in combination therapies.

Background and Hard ticks are the most important vectors of some diseases including babesios, theileriosis, and Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever that affect both animals and humans. Among the members of this family, Rhipicephalus bursa is one of the most important vectors of babesios and theileriosis in Iran and around the world. Therefore, detection of abundance and seasonal dynamics of this species can play an important role in better understanding of the epidemiology of the diseases they transmit. A year round sampling of R. bursa was conducted from July 2007 to July 2008 in three topographical areas including: highland, woodland and lowland in Sari, Iran. The seasonal activity, species abundance and frequencies for presence or absence of the species were investigated in two hosts, sheep and cattle. Morisita index was applied to determine the similarity of species abundance in three regions. The results showed that in all study areas the highest activity of tick was observed in spring and summer which decreased to zero in autumn and winter. The highest abundance of R. bursa was found in highland in spring (n=376) and summer (n=352). The highest frequency of tick was recorded in sheep during spring in highland and lowland and during summer in woodland. Similarity index of R. bursa showed woodland and highland as the most similar areas based on species abundance. Compared to cattle, high frequency and infestation rate of R. bursa were observed in sheep flock. Therefore, control programs should be directed more in sheep and preventive measures should be taken in highland during spring and summer.

Infection with Trichostrongylus spp. is common among human and herbivorous in most parts of Iran, especially in southern and northern ar­eas. The aim of present study was to identify Trichostrongylus spp. among hu­man population using excreted egg specimens, by the molecular method, in Ma­zandaran Province, northern Iran. Overall, 33 positive fecal specimens were randomly sampled and ex­amined. PCR amplification of ITS2-rDNA region was performed on the iso­lated egg and then a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) pro­file was considered to discriminate of Trichostrongylus spp. A total of 33 positive fecal specimens, 29(78.9%), 4(12.1%) were found T. colubriformis and T. axei respectively. Our data appear the molecular evi­dence of both human T. colubriformis and T. axei infections in North of Iran. T. colubriformis was the probable most common zoonotic species caus­ing human trichostrongylosis infection in the area.

This paper reviews the fabrication and application of graphene-based polymer nanocomposites. Recently، graphene، a monolayer of sp2-hybridized carbon atoms arranged in a two-dimensional lattice with exceptional thermal، mechanical، and electrical properties، has attracted both academic and industrial interest because it can produce dramatic improvements in properties at very low filler content. A variety of routes are used to produce graphene-based polymeric nanocomposites which affect the dispersion state of graphene in the polymer matrices and final properties of these composites. Herein، the structure، preparation and properties of polymer/graphene nanocomposites are discussed in general along with detailed examples drawn from the scientific literature. An overview of the potential applications for these composites such as conductive transparent film in electronic devices، sensor، biosensors، gas filtering membrane، field effect transistor (FET) and current challenges in the field is provided for perspective and to potentially guide future progress on the development of these promising materials.

Background and Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica are common liver flukes that are the etiological agents of fasciolosis, which affects both domestic livestock and humans worldwide. In the present study we established a rapid, easy and also accurate tool, for differentiation between F. hepatica and F. gigantica using Fast PCR. Thirty adults of Fasciola species were isolated from sheep and cattle liver form abattoirs in Mazandaran province. ITS1 rDNA region were amplified by Sapphire Amp® Fast PCR and compared with AccuPower® Taq PCR PreMix from Bioneer. In addition, PCR-RFLP assay using Tsp509I was performed for identification of F. hepatica and F. gigantica. A fragment of approximately 463bp was amplified in all of the Fasciola samples using Sapphire Amp® Fast PCR premix in just 34 minutes, while nucleic acid amplification was completed in about 1 hour and 46 minutes by Bioneer PCR master mix. All PCR products were digested with restriction enzyme TasІ (Tsp509I). After digestion, F. hepatica revealed two fragments of 151 and 312 bp while F. gigantica produced three fragments of 93, 151, and 219 bp. Fast PCR reaction using Sapphire Amp® Fast PCR premix was completed three times faster than the time of conventional premix. The new Fast PCR assay using Sapphire Amp® Fast PCR premix provides a simple, rapid and accurate technique for identification and differentiation of Fasciola species in epidemiological researches on human and domestic animals in endemic regions of fasciolosis.

Background and Toxocariasis is a worldwide zoonotic disease with high eosinophil count caused by Toxocara (T.canis and T. cati(. The aim of the present study was to determine the seroprevalence of Toxocara IgG antibody among healthy adult individuals with over 10% eosinophilia count who referred to Health center of Babol and also to find out the risk factors associated with this infection. In this cross-sectional descriptive study, a total of 6984 subjects, 322 healthy adult with over 10% eosinophilia and aged above 15 years old, were randomly chosen throughout 2013. Serum samples were collected and examined using indirect ELISA technique as specific IgG against Toxocara canis. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using Chi square test in SPSS ver. 16. The overall seroprevalence of Toxocara infection was 23.5% (n=76) in studied individuals. The cases were 45 (59.2%) male and 31(40.8%) female. The results showed significant differences between inhabitant area (elevated rate in rural area) (P=0.001) and job (elevated rate in farmers) (P=0.005). Our study showed that farmers and individuals resident in rural areas are more at risk of toxocariasis. Enhancing public awareness about this disease and more efficient control of stray dogs are recommended to decrease the rate of this infection.