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Introduction: The protozoan parasite, Cryptosporidium Spp., widely spreads in both raw and drinking waters. It is the causative agents of waterborne diarrhea and gastroenteritis in the world. In the present study, a molecular assay was used for the detection and quantification of Cryptosporidium oocysts in environmental water samples. Materials and methods: Thirty surface water samples were collected from Rasht City rivers and lagoons during 2009-2010. The samples were analysed for Cryptosporidium oocysts using Real Time PCR method. Samples were filtrated through a 1.2µm pore size cellulose nitrate membrane filter and then purified and quantified by Real-time PCR technique. Results: Cryptosporidium oocysts were found in 19 of 30 the samples. Oocyst concentration was ranging from 0.007 to 27 oocysts per liter of the examined waters. Conclusion: The present study showed that the investigated water supplies were contaminated by Cryptosporidium oocyst. This study indicated that in this level of oocysts there is a potential risk of waterborne cryptosporidiosis due to direct or indirect consumption of these waters by humans and animals. Real-time PCR is a technique that provides high sensitivity for detection quantitative purposes.

Background: Trichinellosis is an important and neglected foodborne zoonotic infectious disease in worldwide. The most human outbreaks in recent years have been related to consumption of wild boar meat. This cross-sectional study determined the prevalence of Trichinella spp. infections in hunted wild boars in northern Iran. Methods: Thirty-five hunted wild boars were subjected in this study in 2015. All samples were examined by conventional artificial digestion method to detect of muscle larvae. Genomic DNA was extracted by phenol-chloroform method from isolated larvae. To identify the Trichinella species, a PCR-based method was applied using the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) and mitochondrial small-subunit ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequences. Results: The overall prevalence of Trichinella spp. infection was 5.7% (2/35, 95%CI= 0-13.4). The mean larval burdens in two positive samples were 0.05 and 6 larvae per gr tissue muscle, respectively. The PCR reaction, using specific primers, yielded two 367 bp and 195 bp bands on agarose gel for ITS 2 and rrnS, respectively. Conclusion: There is a hidden burden of Trichinella spp. infection in wild boar population in Iran. Moreover, T. britovi is the prevalent species circulating in wild boars of Iran. Therefore, education of the hunters and other consumers should be performed about the risk of consumption of raw or undercooked meat and meat products from wild boars.

Background and Objectives: The obligate intracellular bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis causes sexually transmissible diseases in human. Timely and sensitive detection of this pathogen is very important. There are many cross-reactions in bacteriological and serological methods in detection of this type of pathogens. The aim of this study was to achieve a more specific antigen for serological tests. Materials and Methods: Blood samples were taken from 192 women with suspected chlamydial infection and sera were isolated. ELISA plate wells were coated with recombinant C. trachomatis OMP2 as antigen. Cut-off system was determined with 40 negative sera. The final results of this research were compared with Euroimmun commercial kit. Results: The ELISA system cut-off was calculated at 0.27 using negative sera samples. ODs of positive samples were higher than 0.27 and negative samples were lower than it. We obtained 30 samples (15.62%) as positive and 162 cases (84.37%) as negative. Sensitivity and specificity of the recombinant antigen were 90% and 86%, respectively. This antigen showed no cross-reactivity with sera of patients infected with Hydatid cyst, HCV, Epstein barr virus, HBV, Helicobacter pylori, Toxo- plasma gondii, Cytomegalovirus, Mycoplasma, Measles and Varicella zoster virus. Conclusion: The sensitivity and specificity of rOMP2 in ELISA for detection of C. trachomatis were 90% and 86%, respec- tively. Though the sensitivity was higher than results of Euroimmun commercial kit, its specificity was calculated lower than reference kit.