M Mahmoudi, M Mohebali, H Irandoust , S.h Hejazi , H Abdoli , L Shirani-Bidabadi , F Moaatar , S Charehdar , N Shareghi , A.a Akhavan ,
Volume 6, Issue 3 (13 2009)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease transmitted by sand-flies. Seventeen out of the 30 Iranian provinces are contaminated. Although many therapeutic modalities have been suggested, no definite treatment for this widespread infection is available. Many drugs currently used for cutaneous leishmaniasis have their side effects and create complications-drug resistance, etc. This has prompted researchers to get interested in drugs of a natural origin. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the efficacies of an extract of propolis and systemic glucantime against cutaneous leishmaniasis in Balb/c mice.
Materials and Methods: Groups of inbred, female Balb/c mice, aged 4-6 weeks, were inoculated with 1.6 × 10 6 viable stationary-phase promastigotes in the base of tail. The mice were provided by Iran Pasteur Institute, Tehran and were randomized into three groups of 9 mice each. Groups 1 to 3 were treated with pure 70% ethanol, systemic glucantime, or the propolis hydroalcoholic extract for a 6-week period the 4th group served as control. The statistical tests including student t-test were used for data analysis.
Results: Overall, 27 mice were studied. We did not observe any statistically significant difference among the groups with regard to the size of the ulcer at the beginning (P>0.01). At the end f the period, there was a significant difference with regard to reduction of ulcer size between the propolis extract and glucantime groups in favor of the propolis extract (P= 0.001). Further analysis of the data showed that the largest reduction in the ulcer size was caused by the propolis extract, as compared with the control, glucantime and alcohol groups.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that the propolis extract is more effective in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis in mice. We suggest that the efficacy of this extract alone or in combination with drugs be assessed against human cutaneous leishmaniasis, using randomized clinical trials.
Rahimeh Abdoli, Mohammad Mehdi Sedaghat, Mohammad Ali Oshaghi, Hamideh Edalat, Zakieh Telmadarraiy, Sahar Azarmi, Mohammad Javad Rafinejad,
Volume 17, Issue 1 (6-2019)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Ixodidae (hard ticks) are obligate blood-feeders of vertebrates with majorroles in transmission of pathogenic microorganisms including theileriosis, babesiosis and CCHF virus, as well as relapsing fever, to domestic animals and humans. This study was conducted to determine the distribution of ixodidae species, vectors of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), in the border areas in North West of Iran.
Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in Ahar and Kaliybar Counties, East Azarbaijan Province, Iran. Randomized cluster sampling was done in villages in the forest and mountainous regions. Ticks were isolated by forceps from the animals, kept in sampling tubes and transferred to the laboratory. Then the tick samples were identified using taxonomical keys.
Results: A total of 2022 hard ticks were isolated from 1400 head of livestock (1000, 200, 180 and 20 head of sheep, goat, cow and buffalo, respectively). On the average, the infestation rate was 1.44 per head of cattle ─ 0.11% in goats, 0.32% in sheep, 0.90% in buffaloes, 9.25% cows. Out of the ticks isolated, 498 (24.63%) were male, 741 (36.65%) were female and 782 (38.67%) nymph, plus one larva. The ticks belonged to the lxodidae family, including four genera: Hyalomma (88.82%, with the following three species: Hyalommaanatolicum (39.22%), Hyalommamarginatum (9.15%) and Hyalommaasiaticum (0.69%)); Rhipicephalus (8.8%); Dermasentor (1.58%); and Haemaphisalis (0.8%). The others identified were Hyalomma nymph (38.67%), Hyalomma sp. (1.04%) and Hyalomma larva (0.05%), Rhipicephalus bursa (5.19%), Rhipicephalussanguineus (3.61%), Dermasentor marinates(1.58%), Haemaphisalissulcata (0.59%), and Haemaphisalispunctata (0.15%), as well as Haemaphisalisconcinae (0.05%). Hyalommaanatolicum was the dominant species.
Conclusion: The dominant tick species in the regions studied was Hyalommaanatolicum, a tick having a major role in transmission of many disease vectors including CCHF, ovin babesiosis, theileriosis, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, etc. It is essential that the provincial Contagious Disease Center and Veterinary Department take appropriate action with the collaboration of other relevant departments to combat the tick.
