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Background: Toxoplasmosis, which is caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is a widespread parasitic disease that affects approximately one-third of the world's population. Due to the significant side effects of anti-Toxoplasma drugs, it is necessary to acquire new drugs with low toxicity, high activity, cheaper and more effective. Objective: Earthworm has long been used as a therapeutic source of medicine in China and other parts of the Far East. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate of antiparasitic effects of Eisenia fetida extract against T. gondii in the Vero cell line. Materials and Methods: The effects of the extract on the parasite, Vero cell, and the parasitized cells were estimated by MTT assay in vitro. Apoptosis was also measured by flow cytometer in three groups of extract-treated parasites, extract-treated Vero cells, and extract-treated parasitic Vero cells, respectively. Results: The inhibitory effect of E. fetida extract and sulfadiazine was more than 85% and 65% on the parasite, respectively. Intracellular multiplication of the parasite in Vero cells during the 3 hours test showed a significant decrease compared to the 1-hour test (p Conclusion: The results showed that E. fetida extract in vitro could have a significant antiparasitic effect against T. gondii.

Attractive Toxic Bait (ATB) is a low risk practical method to cockroach control. This study aimed to evaluate efficacy of a newly modified eight-chamber-olfactometer for attractiveness experiments. Different stages of German cockroaches were exposed to carbohydrate-rich and protein-rich foods and their attractions were tested both at ambient conditions and in the modified olfactometer. In the latter method, cockroaches were released into the main chamber of olfactometer and their attraction to food compounds placed in test chambers were recorded as the number of captured cockroaches in test chambers. The direct attractiveness test was performed in plastic pans. Repellency of fipronil insecticide was performed with prepared bait powder using olfactometer. Data were subjected to analysis of variance with Tukey’s Test,P ≤ 0.05. Different notes should be considered when using introduced olfactometer like precision when opening the test chambers valves, the fan speed, placement of cardboard shelter in both test and main chambers, and initial starvation of cockroaches. Roasted peanut, banana and biscuits powder were the most attractive foods for cockroaches. The females significantly preferred roasted peanut and the males significantly preferred banana and roasted peanut. These results were similar to the results of direct attracted cockroaches. The cockroaches have repellency to fipronil but attractiveness of bait with 0.01% concentration was significantly higher than cockroach diet. Generally, three factors should be considered in formulation of ATB like un-repellency of the a.i, attractiveness of bait compositions, and palatability of bait texture. The olfactometer introduced in this study could be used by researchers to study cockroach behaviors.

Prediction models are essential for the potential geographic distribution of scorpions, prevention of scorpion stings and diverse applications in conservation biology. There is limited information about habitat suitability and the factors affecting the distribution of Iranian digger scorpions. This study was undertaken to model the distribution of three types of digger scorpion in Iran, Odontobuthus doriae Thorell, Odonthubutus bidentatus Lourenco (Scorpiones: Buthidae) and Scorpio maurus Pocockin (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae), and investigate the factors affecting its distribution using the maximum entropy method. A total of 20 environmental and climate variables were used for modeling and evaluation of the ecological niche. The similarities and differences between the ecological overlap of the digger scorpions were evaluated using comparative environmental niche model (ENM Tools software). The results showed that the main factors for habitat suitability of O. doriae were soil type, mean temperature of the wettest quarter and slope. The variables for S. maurus were soil type, precipitation of the coldest quarter and slope. Annual temperature range, mean temperature of the driest quarter and land use had the greatest influence on the distribution of O. bidentatus. The ecological niches for O. doriae and O. bidentatus overlapped. The niche of these species differed from the niche of S. maurus. This approach could be helpful for the prediction of the potential distribution of three digger scorpion species and this model can be an effective for the promotion of health.

A novel electrochemical sensor has been developed for levofloxacin (LEV), by coating a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) with a film of poly (L-Cysteine)@Au NPs@reduced graphene oxide. Cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, UV–Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy and electron scanning microscope imaging were used for general surface characterization over the successive electrode modification steps. The electrochemical properties of the LEV was monitored by performing cyclic voltammetry (CV) experiments. The CVs showed one oxidation peak at 1.0 V during the anodic potential scan, which was attributed to LEV. Differential pulse voltammetry experiments using the modified electrode produced linear response in two concentration windows of 1.0 × 10−11 M and 1.0 × 10−4 (LEV), with detection limits of 3.0 × 10−12 M for LEV. The GCE modified through coating with a film of poly(l-cys)/AuNPs/rGO/GCE was found to offer high stability, reproducibility, and repeatability, as well as selectivity for LEV in mixed samples, and was successfully used in the analysis of the LEV in synthetic blood serum, with recovery values of around 99%.

Yb3+- and Pr3+-substituted cobalt–nickel ferrite nanoparticles were prepared through a sol–gel auto-combustion procedure and the effects on the cytotoxic, photocatalytic and magnetic characteristics of the resulting compounds were evaluated. As an initial step, the structure, morphology and magnetic properties of the produced particles were assessed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), photoluminescence (PL), and vibrating sample magnetometery (VSM) techniques. The crystalline size and nanoparticles size of prepared nanostructures was in the range of 100–180 and 90–220 nm based on XRD and SEM results. Using the XRD results it was found that the product had a spinel cobalt–nickel ferrite phase structure, also containing some PrFeO3 and YbFeO3 phases as impurities. VSM results exhibited that Co0.5Ni0.5Pr0.1Fe1.9O4 has higher magnetic parameters than Co0.5Ni0.5Yb0.1Fe1.9O4, yet but the latter enjoys enhanced photocatalytic activity in degrading methyl orange (MO) under ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation.

Background: Lack of information about the dispersal of vector species barricade surveillance and control. Aims: Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the species diversity of Culex mosquito's larvae in the coastal areas of the Persian Gulf. Methods: Mosquito larvae were collected from six places in three main environmental categories: urban (UA), rural (RA) and uninhabited areas (UNA), using dipping technique. Four dips were taken from each breeding site (350 ml each). Larval investigation was conducted two times a month during the study period. Diversity studies were conducted separately for each category by calculating classic diversity indices. Results: In total, 1369 specimens belonging to 10 different species were collected and identified, as follows: Culex hortensis, Cx. laticinctus, Cx. mimeticus, Cx. perexiguus, Cx. pipiens, Cx. modestus, Cx. sinaiticus, Cx. theileri, Cx. torrentium and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus. None of these mosquito species have been recorded previously in this region. Diversity analysis indicated higher species richness for RA (Margalef 1/26). The average diversity indices for the three environment types ranged from 1.50 to 1.64 for Shannon index and from 0.730 to 0.738 for Simpson index. Conclusions: Biodiversity analysis indicated that species diversity in rural, urban and uninhabited areas is somewhat similar. Therefore, attention to all areas in vector control programs is essential.

Khoobdel M, Keshavarzi D, Sobat H, Akbari M. 2020. Short Communication: Species diversity, habitat and abundance of Culicid mosquitoes in Bushehr Province, South of Iran. Biodiversitas 21: 1401-1406. Culicid-borne diseases are causes of substantial illness worldwide. Effective culicid control depends on up-to-date knowledge of ecology and dispersal of species. Hence, this entomological study was conducted from January - December 2017 to provide baseline data on the distribution and ecology of mosquitoes in the Southwest of Iran. In total, 2530 specimens belonging to 14 different species were collected and identified, as follows: Culex hortensis, Cx. laticinctus, Cx. mimeticus, Cx. perexiguus, Cx. pipiens, Cx. modestus, Cx. sinaiticus, Cx. theileri, Cx. torrentium, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus, Anopheles stephensi, An. superpictus, An.dthali, and An.subpictus. Diversity analysis indicated higher species richness for uninhabited areas (Margalef 1/86). The average of Shannon diversity index ranged from 1.98 to 2.10. Differences between urban and uninhabited areas were significant according to the diversity t-test (P = 0.024, t = 2.26). The analysis of beta biodiversity showed that rural and uninhabited areas were the closest environments in their specific composition (Whittaker index = 0.130). These findings could be useful in vector control program.

Toxoplasmosis is a common zoonotic disease, which is of particular importance in women before and during pregnancy. In this study, the chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay was used to detect Toxoplasma gondii and the seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii was investigated among childbearing women in Qom, Iran. In this study, 202 blood samples were collected from childbearing women for evaluation of toxoplasmosis. Serum samples were isolated to determine anti-Toxoplasma IgM and IgG antibodies. Based on findings, the total prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies was 134 (66.3%) [95% CI 59.6–72.5]. In addition, 133 (65.8%) [95% CI 59.1–72.1], 19 (9.4%) [95% CI 6.1–14.2] and 18 (8.9%) [95% CI 5.7–13.6] samples were IgG-positive, IgM-positive and positive for both antibodies, respectively. The highest infection rate was reported over the age of 35 years, and positive lgM antibodies were detected in women below 29 years. T. gondii infection showed a significant correlation with age, pregnancy, contact with cats, exposure to soil, and consumption of raw food (P

Introduction: Toxoplasma gondii is an obligatory intracellular protozoan parasite, which infects human beings. Since the current antigens used for diagnosis or vaccination are contaminated with non -parasitic material in which the parasite is grown, it is tried to produce recombinant antigens to design vaccines against toxoplasmosis, or make diagnostic kits. Choosing the type of antigen to produce recombinant vaccine or diagnostic kits is considerably important. The dense granule protein 14 (GRA14) gene is one of the excretory-secretary antigens of Toxoplasma which seems to be an appropriate candidate in production of recombinant vaccines and diagnostic kits. The current study aimed to clone GRA14 gene of T. gondii (RH) in a cloning vector for further production of dense granular proteins. Materials and Methods: Genomic DNA was isolated from tachyzoite of parasite by phenol chloroform method and gene fragment was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR products were ligated into restriction enzymes sites of pTG19-T cloning vector. Then transformed into Escherichia coli Top10 strain and screened by IPTG and X-Gal. Then recombinant plasmid confirmed by the colony-PCR and restriction enzyme digestion using SacI and NotI was done followed by sequencing .After isolation of this gene from pTG19-T, it was subcloned into a prokaryotic expression plasmid (pET32a). The pET32a - GRA14 constructs were analyzed by PCR, restriction analysis and sequencing. Results: Evaluation of PCR products by agarose gel electrophoresis and analysis of nucleotide sequencing of 1227 bp gene encoding the protein GRA14, revealed the complete homology with the recorded sequences in the gene bank. After enzyme restriction and electrophoresis a fragment about 1227 bp was separated from pET32a. Conclusions: The result of this study showed that recombinant GRA14 Toxoplasma was constructed successfully and ready for future study which seems like the antigen is a suitable candidate to produce recombinant vaccine and diagnostic kit.

Synanthropic flies are members of order Diptera and considered as medical and veterinary pests. In this study, parasitoid wasps were determined and their natural host preferences in order to select a suitable agent for biological control of flies. The pupae of three species of flies; Musca domestica, Lucilia sericata and Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis were used as hosts for natural parasitoids. For this issue, as much as 50 pupae of each fly species put in three separate dishes with covered top by a net. These dishes were placed in the field to attract parasitoid wasps. The most parasitic rate was related to N. vitripennis (%17.2). Host preferences of N. vitripennis on M. domestica pupae were higher than observed parasitism on L. sericata and S. haemorrhoidalis. The emerging rate of two parasitoids; P. vindemmiae and S. nigroaenea were one per host pupae. According to the result, N. vitripennis can be an appropriate candidate for use as natural enemy which expected to be effective in controlling various species of synanthropic flies. Therefore, S. nigroaenea was more suitable to biological control of housefly populations.

Background: One of the many tasks of rural health houses (HHs) is to provide health education for rural clients. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the conditions and responsibilities of HHs regarding health education. Methods: Through systematic random sampling, 1600 HHs were selected during April-September 2011. Besides the characteristics of HHs, type of training, audience groups, time of education, number of participants, and reasons for educational classes were requested in a written format from the selected HHs. Data were analyzed using Excel 2007 and SPSS version 16. Results: In total, 21.9% of HHs had no group education within the first 5 months. Most education was related to the field of reproductive health, followed by intestinal diseases. The largest target group included mothers eligible for family planning. The mean duration of education was 33.6 minutes per week. Based on the findings, 55% of training was conducted due to provincial health priorities. Conclusions: Although cardiovascular diseases, road traffic accidents, and cancers are the major causes of mortality in Iran, most education concentrated on reproductive health, as well as mother and child health. Therefore, modifications in educational methods and planning are necessary.

Viper venom contains antibacterial and cytotoxic components. The aim of this study was to identify and evaluate the antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties of the crude venom of Vipera latifii (V. latifii). Lyophilized venom of V. latifii was quantified by Bradford method and its antibacterial activity (6.25-400 μg/ml) was assessed using the MTT, MIC, Disc diffusion, and Well diffusion assays. Also, its cytotoxic activity was investigated using MTT reduction, Neutral uptake, and Comet assay on human liver cancer (HepG2) cell line. Crude venom showed antibacterial effects against Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, but was not effective on Escherichia coli. Also, the crude venom showed apoptotic and necrotic effects on human liver cancer cells. The venom of V. latifii can inhibit the growth of bacteria and cancer cells. These findings suggest that this may be a potential source of molecules with antibacterial and anticancer characteristics.

Background: Cryptosporidium is a protozoan parasite that has medical and veterinary importance, and causes diarrhea and vomiting in a vast range of vertebrates. Some surface antigens, such as gp40/15, play important roles in adhesion and invasion of the parasite to host cells and consequently stimulate immune responses. Cloning and expression of the gp40/15 gene to provide recombinant proteins of the parasite antigens is valuable. Objectives: This study aimed at cloning and expression of the gp40/15 gene in Escherichia coli. Methods: In this experimental study, the gp40/15 gene sequence was extracted from GenBank (No. AF155624) and cloned in the PET28a+ plasmid. Colony polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme digestion methods by restricting enzymes, including BamHI and XhoI, were applied for verification. The recombinant plasmid was transferred to the Escherichia coli and the protein expression was confirmed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), Western blot, and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques using serum containing antibodies against Cryptosporidium parvum. The protein was further purified by column chromatography. Results: The gp40/15 gene was successfully cloned in the PET28a+ plasmid. The colony PCR and enzymatic digestion methods showed a 921-bp fragment. Furthermore, expression of pEgp40/15 in Escherichia coli demonstrated a 43-kDa band. Antibody titrations in sera of test groups were significantly (P < 0.0001) higher than that of the control groups. Furthermore, antibody titration in test groups with four injections was significantly higher than that of the three injections (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The gp40/15 gene, which was cloned in the PET28a+, was successfully expressed and produced in E. coli. Therefore, this protein can be used in future studies to develop recombinant vaccines and diagnostic kits.