Iranian Journal of Parasitology最新文献

Background: Leishmania is a vector-borne protozoon, which causes visceral, cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniosis in human and animals. Monocyte-derived exosome vaccines can be used as prophylaxis and immunotherapy strategies. The aim of this study was to design a multiple-epitope candidate vaccine using leishmaniolysin (GP63) and rK39 proteins against Leishmania major and L. infantum for monocyte-derived exosome preparation.

Methods: This study was carried out in Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran, 2023-2024. Effective immunodominant epitopes were selected from two antigenic proteins of GP63 and rK39 using various immunoinformatics and bioinformatics approaches. Vibrio cholerae β-subunit was used as an adjuvant to stimulate immune responses. Then, appropriate linkers were selected for the fusion of epitopes. The 3D model of candidate vaccine was predicted and validated.

Results: This designed candidate vaccine could effectively be used as a prophylaxis strategy against leishmaniosis.

Conclusion: A candidate vaccine was designed using bioinformatic and immunoinformatic studies with virtual acceptable quality; however, effectiveness of this vaccine should be verified through further in-vitro and in-vivo studies.

Background: Leishmaniasis is highly prevalent worldwide, and while conventional medicine offers numerous treatment methods for cutaneous leishmaniasis, Iranian traditional medicine suggests various remedies. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an herbal combination containing Indigofera argentea leaves, Pistacia atlantica resin, and Salvia hispanica seeds in patients with zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Methods: This study was conducted at the Leishmaniasis Department of Chabahar Health Center in southeastern Iran in 2021. It was a double-blinded randomized clinical trial involving 68 patients enrolled after clinical diagnosis, examination of smear samples using Giemsa staining, and PCR confirmation. The volunteers were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. Both groups received 'Glucantime ® as the primary medication weekly until complete healing or up to 12 weeks. Glucantime ® was administered intralesionally at a dosage of 0.1 cc on the wound's margin, with repeat injections at 1 cm intervals along the wound edge when necessary. In addition to the main drug, the intervention group received the herbal product topically twice daily until wound healing or for up to 4 weeks, while the control group received a placebo in the same manner.

Results: 82.35% of patients in the intervention group and 20.58% in the control group achieved complete healing within four weeks. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: The herbal product demonstrated effectiveness in treating patients with zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Background: Curcumin is an extract of rhizome turmeric (diferuloylmethane), with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anti-parasitic properties, which making it a potential candidate for the treatment of leishmaniasis. The aim of the presented study was to evaluate curcumin as possible candidate for treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Methods: We investigated the physicochemical properties and anti-leishmanial effects of nanoliposomal curcumin (40, 80, and 120 μM) in Leishmania major (MRHO/IR/75/ER) infected BALB/c mice at the faculty of Veterinary Medicinem University of Tehran, Iran. For this aim, L. major promastigotes (MHROM/IR/75/ER) at stationary phase (2×106) were inoculated sub-cutaneously into the upper area of the tail in BALB/c mice (six groups, n= 10 per group). For evaluation of nanoliposomal curcumin, the zeta potential, particle size and stability of nanoliposomal curcumin was determined. Furthermore, the anti-leishmanial effects of nanoliposomal curcumin formulation on the lesion sizes was determined and the parasite burden in the leishmania induced lesion was performed using semi quantitative PCR.

Results: Treatment of L. major infected BALB/c mice with nanoliposomal curcumin led to a reduction in the kinetic of the skin lesion size development. The semi quantitative PCR analysis of DNA extracted from the lesions showed reduction of parasite burden. The most effective treatment could be found in 80 μM nanoliposomal curcumin. Treatment with Glucantime, as a positive control, also showed a nearly similar effect compared to the effect of 80 μM nanoliposomal curcumin.

Conclusion: Nanoliposomal curcumin could be considered as a potential drug against cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. major in susceptible animal models.

Background: We aimed to evaluate the differential expression of nanos and ago genes in the protoscoleces, germinal layer, the neck, and the sucker regions of adult Echinococcus granulosus.

Methods: The study was conducted in 2018 at the Research Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. In the present study E. granulosus protoscoleces were cultured in a di-phasic medium to obtain strobilated worms. The strobilated worms were harvested and using a sterile razor blade, the neck region was separated. In the molecular study the neck sections were compared with the tissues derived from the suckers from the same worm. The primers were specifically designed for RT-qPCR on nanos and ago. The germinative cells were isolated from the cyst germinal layer and cultured in DMEM for further molecular studies. The Immunohisto-chemical profile was designed to explore the nature of nanos protein in the strobilated worms. Differences between and within groups were statistically assessed relative to the protoscoleces.

Results: An increasing nanos gene expressions were found in sucker, neck, cells and germinal layer in comparison to the protoscoleces. The expression of ago gene was decreased in sucker, cell and germinal layer, and increased in the neck region in comparison to the protoscoleces. The results showed that both genes were expressed in all developmental stages of E. granulosus.

Conclusion: nanos and ago genes were differentially expressed at different developmental stages of E. granulosus and may contribute to differentiation of the parasite.

Background: Naegleria spp., Tetramitus spp., and Vermamoeba vermiformis are potential pathogenic free-living amoebae (FLA) causing diseases such as keratitis, meningoencephalitis, and lung infections. We aimed to investigate the presence of Vahlkampfiidae and V. vermiformis in raw vegetables commonly consumed in Iran.

Methods: Totally, 70 samples of vegetables samples including watercress (22), leeks (12), parsley (10), basil (13) and mint (13) were collected from municipal markets of Tehran, the capital of Iran during June to October 2021. After washing vegetables, samples were cultivated onto 2% non-nutrient agar (NNA) medium. After morphological confirmations, DNA was extracted and identical fragments of the FLA were amplified and sequenced.

Results: Out of 70 cultured samples, 11 samples (15.71 %) were morphologically positive, of which four and seven were V. vermiformis and Vahlkampfiidae isolates, respectively. According to the PCR/sequencing results two, one, one, and one strains belonged to N. australiensis, N. americana, Vahlkampfia sp., V. inornata, and T. aberdonicus, respectively. All Vermamoeba genus were characterized as V. vermiformis.

Conclusion: The results of current study revealed the contamination of fresh raw vegetables with Vahlkampfiidae and V. vermiformis. In addition, to our knowledge this is the first report of T. aberdonicus in raw vegetables. Our findings highlight the public health importance of vegetables in transmission of FLA, as well as the potential role of FLA in transmission of potential pathogenic microorganisms via consuming of fresh raw vegetables.

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is a pathogenic parasite with worldwide distribution. We investigated curcumin and chitosan in combination on the viability of T. gondii tachyzoites in silico, in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: A 3D model was employed in Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran in 2021 to study the interaction between curcumin and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). Ramachandran root-mean-square deviation and VERIFY3D validated the model. Cytotoxicity of curcumin and chitosan was evaluated by MTT viability assay. BALB/c mice infected with 104 Toxoplasma organisms were treated with curcumin, chitosan, and the combination of curcumin+chitosan. Serum levels of inducible NO synthetase (iNOs), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-5, glutamate oxaloacetic transaminases(SGOT), and glutamic pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) were determined.

Result: Curcumin-DHFR and curcumin-DHPS (dihydropteroate synthase) interactions and calculated enzyme energy indicated an excellent affinity for curcumin with DHFR, but not DHPS. MTT results of concurrent treatments demonstrated IC₅₀ rates of 0.1, 0.05, and 0.01 mg/ml at 24, 48, and 72h, respectively. IFN-γ, IL-5 and iNOs levels in curcumin+chitosan treated mice were 1.71, 0.51, and 1.51 IU/L, while those of SGOT and SGPT were 76 and 84 IU/L, respectively.

Conclusion: The combination of curcumin and chitosan increased survival time of infected mice by seven days. Curcumin and chitosan in combination regulated the immune system and reduced liver damage, potentially forming the basis of a new treatment for toxoplasmosis.

Hydatid disease is endemic in some regions of the world. Even in endemic regions, splenic hydatid cysts are rare, especially in pregnancy. The most serious presentation is intra peritoneal rupture, which is a surgical emergency. Exploration with splenectomy is the favoured management. We present a case of splenic hydatid cyst, detected late in pregnancy, with intraperitoneal rupture in the postpartum period. Cystic lesions located anywhere in the body in endemic regions could be hydatid cysts. Prompt treatment should be planned immediately on detection in order to prevent potentially serious complications like rupture.

Background: Cryptosporidium and Giardia are well-known important intestinal zoonotic pathogens that can infect various hosts and cause diarrhoeal diseases. We aimed to determine the epidemiological prevalence and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium and Giardia species in Himalayan marmot (Marmota himalayana, class Marmota) in the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau Area of Qinghai Province, Northwest China.

Methods: Overall, 243 Himalayan marmot fecal samples were collected in 2017 and in 2019 and a two-step nested PCR technique was performed to amplify the fragments of the SSU rRNA gene of Cryptosporidium and 18S ribosomal RNA gene of Giardia. Molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium was performed with the primary primers NDIAGF2 and N-DIAGR2, the secondary primers CPB-DIAGF and CPB-DIAGR. Similarly, molecular characterization of Giardia was used the first primers Gia2029 and Gia2150c, the secondary primers RH11 and RH4. The positive PCR products were sequenced and the sequences were processed by Clustal Omega and BLAST. Phylogenetic analysis was achieved by NJ method in MEGA.

Results: The infection rate of Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis was 4.9% (12/243) and 0.8% (2/243) in M. himalayana, respectively. Cryptosporidium spp. are characterized as novel genotypes Cryptosporidium marmot genotype I (n=3) and Cryptosporidium marmot genotype II (n=9); G. duodenalis assemblage A (n=2) was found in M. himalayana.

Conclusion: This is the first report of Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis infections in M. himalayana in Qinghai of Northwest China. The results indicate the existence of Cryptosporidium species and G. duodenalis infections that may have a potential public health significance.

Background: Current study was designed to provide a better insight into the circulating genotypes, genetic diversity, and population structure of Echinococcus spp. between southeast of Iran and Pakistan.

Methods: From Jun 2020 to Dec 2020, 46 hydatid cysts were taken from human (n: 6), camel (n: 10), goat (n: 10), cattle (n: 10) and sheep (n: 10) in various cities of Sistan and Baluchestan Province of Iran, located at the neighborhood of Pakistan. DNA samples were extracted, amplified, and subjected to sequence analysis of cox1 and nad1 genes.

Results: The phylogeny inferred by the Maximum Likelihood algorithm indicated that G1 genotype (n: 19), G3 genotype (n: 14) and G6 genotype (n: 13) assigned into their specific clades. The diversity indices showed a moderate (nad1: Hd: 0.485) to high haplotype diversity (cox1: Hd: 0.867) of E. granulosus s.s. (G1/G3) and low nucleotide diversity. The negative value of Tajima's D and Fu's Fs test displayed deviation from neutrality indicating a recent population expansion. A parsimonious network of the haplotypes of cox1 displayed star-like features in the overall population containing IR9/PAK1/G1, IR2/PAK2/G3 and IR18/G6 as the most common haplotypes. A pairwise fixation index (Fst) indicated that E. granulosus s.s. populations are genetically moderate differentiated between southeast of Iran and Pakistan. The extension of haplotypes PAK18/G1 (sheep) and PAK26/G1 (cattle) toward Iranian haplogroup revealed that there is dawn of Echinococcus flow due to a transfer of alleles between mentioned populations through transport of livestock or their domestication.

Conclusion: The current findings strengthen our knowledge concerning the evolutionary paradigms of E. granulosus in southeastern borders of Iran and is effective in controlling of hydatidosis.

Hydatid disease can virtually involve any organs, liver being the most common followed by lungs. Pleural effusion as a complication of pulmonary hydatid cyst is exceptionally rare and its diagnosis and treatment pose significant challenges. We present an intriguing case managed in Dr D Y Patil medical college and Hospital in west India in June 2023 involving a 70-year-old female who presented with symptoms of right-sided chest pain and acute-onset dyspnoea. Referred from a local hospital, a chest radiograph revealed the presence of right pleural effusion. Subsequent radiological investigations including a contrast enhanced CT at our centre exposed two large, well-defined hypodense lesions with fluid density, encased by thick enhancing walls, along with right-sided pleural effusion and hence a diagnosis of lung abscess with right pleural effusion (right parapneumonic effusion) was established. Despite ongoing care, clinical improvement eluded us. Thoracocentesis yielded a surprising revelation - the pleural fluid was transudative with visible hooklets and protoscolices, indicating a ruptured pulmonary hydatid cyst. The patient began albendazole treatment and received a CVTS consultation. They recommended a right lower lobe lobectomy, now scheduled for the near future.