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We investigated the prevalence of geohelminth parasites in farmers, education concerned and shepherd of Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A total of 1041 stool samples were examined from January 2006 to December 2008 using direct smear (Normal saline and Lugol,s Iodine solution) the concentration methods and procedures. Seven hundred and sixty three (73.2%) individuals were found infected with one or more than one geohelminth parasites. Four hundred and eighteen (54.7%) were infected with single parasite and three hundred forty five (45.3%) with multiple infections. Ascaris lumbricoides 460 (53.0%), Trichuris trichura 228 (26.2%), Enterobius vermicularis 123 (14.1%) and Ancylostoma duedenale 56 (6.45%) were detected. The adults were found more parasitized than children and males were more infected than females. Shepherds were found more infected than farmers and education concerned. Although Swat is an area with poor hygiene located in temperate zone near the border of Afghanistan and China. The prevalence of reported geohelminth parasites here compared with the same studies is unexpectedly high. These type of studies should continue time to time to know the hazardous of such parasitic infections for the betterment of the human health [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scabies is a highly contagious skin disease caused by an infestation by the mite Sacoptes scabiei. The most important symptom is severe itch. Severe itching may cause sepsis which is sometimes life threatening. Male patients visiting Baqai Medical University were grouped into five categories based on their age at the first visit. The diagnosis was based on detailed history and clinical examination which included scraping of papillae or burrow to confirm the diagnosis. To test the incidence in various age groups and body parts a chi-square (χ²) test of association (R × C contingency test) was performed. The association of body parts and age groups was significant. Most of the patients above the age of 10 were either working in vegetable market or were rag pickers working near garbage bins. The highest infection was recorded on the knees and the lowest on groin. There is need to diagnose dermatoses at early stage by training general practitioners. Scabicides must be applied at bedtime and wash off the next morning and finally if there is a single patient the entire family must be treated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examined the new helminth parasite species Genarchopsis gibsoni that were collected from the small intestine of the fish, Channa (Ophiocephalus) striatus (Bl.) and Channa (Ophiocephalus) maculatos (Bl.). The characteristics of the new species include a body rounded at anterior extremity, bluntly pointed at posterior extremity, and without prepharynx and esophagus. The parasite species, Genarchopsis kalriai, were also collected from the fish species. The fish species were from the Keenjhar Lake in Sindh, Pakistan.

A survey of phytonematodes associated with pomegranate was conducted encompassing 12 localities of Balochistan Province. Twelve genera were recorded from the rhizosphere of pomegranate. The most dominant species was Meloidogyne incognita. Species diversity (H') was highest in Wadh while lowest in Ali Dasht. Equitability (J') component of diversity was highest in Kork and lowest in Ali Dasht, while species richness (d') component was highest in Alat. The soils associated with Pomegranate orchards were coarse-structured, alkaline with low maximum water holding capacity. In most cases similarities were low between localities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of different treatments on population of three nematode species associated with guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) and the yield of guar were investigated. The chemical nematicides and plant extracts significantly reduced the population densities of all three nematodes. Carbofuran was most effective against all the nematodes. Apart from other three treatments, Tridax procumbens emerged as an effective phytonematicide. Helicotylenchus indicus, Rotylenchulus reniformis and Meloidogyne incognita had similar population density levels and were more or less equally suppressed by all the treatments in the order: Carbofuran > Tridax procumbens > Fertinemakil Plus > Withania somnifera. The yield of guar was only slightly increased but not significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rats are capable to harbor various pathogens, among which certain species of zoonotic parasites are included. A long-term detection of parasite fauna of rats has sporadically been carried out in Iran. Abundance of these vertebrate pests is of great importance as regards public health issue. The present paper is focused on a digenean trematode Plagiorchis muris, obtained during a comprehensive study on rats over the decades in the country. Herein we describe this occurrence in a Rattus norvegicus in northern Tehran, with specific note on its morphological description. P. muris can infect human through consumption of infected marine food items, and has never been observed in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which reports for the first time the histology of chicken spleen from Pakistan based on clinical and pathological features characteristic of avian leucosis virus (ALVs). The study uses four commercial 33-week-old egg laying white dead birds with no previous symptoms of illness from a poultry farm in Karachi, Pakistan. Results show no neural enlargement but with architectural distortion of spleen. It discusses the differential diagnosis of ALVs. Furthermore, cortex and medulla along with lymphoid cell infiltration was prominent.

The article presents a study that identifies and describes a new species of the trematode Temiorchis Mehra et Negi, 1925 from the small intestine of frog (Rana cyanophlyctis) which is named Temiorchis sindhensis. It mentions that the genus Temiorchis Mehra et Negi, 1925 is known to occur in amphibians and reptiles of which two species of the genus have been recorded from Pakistan. The new species is identified through collecting six frogs from Oderolal Station, and Sindh in Pakistan and examined them for helminth parasites. The examination reveled that the new species is of elliptical body, elongated and spinulated. Its oral sucker is smaller as compared to acetabulum and its pharynx are well-developed.