BACKGROUND: Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is the etiological agent of caseous lymphadenitis (CLA), a chronic and very common disease in sheep and goats, which can lead to severe economic losses in the livestock industry.OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of CLA in sheep in Kurdistan province of Iran using phenotypic and molecular methods, and assess the antibiotic resistance of isolated Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis.METHODS: In this study, from September to March 2022, 270 samples of skin abscesses were collected from sheep in livestock farms of Kurdistan province. Immediately, using the cold chain system, the samples were transferred to the microbiology laboratory of the Faculty of Medicine at Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences. Identification of isolates was done using biochemical tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. The antibiotic resistance of the isolates was examined using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method.RESULTS: Based on biochemical tests, out of 270 samples, 82 suspected to have Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. Out 82 samples, the presence of bacteria was confirmed in 76 samples by the PCR. The antibiotic sensitivity test showed that the isolates had high sensitivity to doxycycline and ceftriaxone and high resistance to streptomycin and kanamycin.CONCLUSIONS: The CLA has a high prevalence in sheep in Kurdistan province. According to high resistance rate of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis to streptomycin and kanamycin, it recommended to avoid treatment of CLA cases with these antibiotics.

BACKGROUND: The bacterium Capnocytophaga canimorsus is a relatively newly recognized gram-negative, facultative, slow-growing bacillus that forms part of the normal oral flora of dogs and cats. Considering the pathogenicity of this bacterium in humans, determining its prevalence is very important for public health as well as the health of dog owners.OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of Capnocytophaga canimorsus in the normal oral flora of healthy dogs.METHODS: After taking samples from the saliva of 32 healthy dogs without oral, dental or digestive diseases at different ages, breeds, and sexes, they were placed in a test tube containing 10 mL of sterile peptone water with sterile plastic brushes, and immediately sent to the bacteriology laboratory under sterile conditions. The samples were cultured on a chocolate agar medium containing 5 % defibrinated sheep blood. Then, all the samples were kept in a greenhouse for 48 hours at a temperature of 37 °C and under anaerobic conditions. Using a loop, the grown pink colonies were isolated and to confirm the identification of the isolates, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test was used in three main steps: Gene extraction, PCR reaction, and electrophoresis.RESULTS: Out of 32 saliva samples, four positive cases of Capnocytophaga canimorsus bacteria were identified by PCR diagnostic method.CONCLUSIONS: Given that Capnocytophaga canimorsus bacterium is present in the oral flora of healthy ​​dogs, dog owners should have sufficient and favorable knowledge about this bacterium and related diseases. The PCR method can be used to detect this bacterium.

BACKGROUND: Based on the historical and recently published documents, it has been demonstrated that Mirabilis jalapa as a herbal medicine may be used as remedies for various health problems included wound healing purposes.OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of ethanolic extract of Laleh abbasi green leaf on healing open wounds induced by skin puncture in the back of rats.METHODS: Collecting and drying Laleh abbasi leaves, leaf extracting through Soxhlet procedure, analyzing the extract via gc / ms method, and preparing eucerin-based extract ointment were done according to recommended routine procedures. Herein, we recruited 40 male rats that were randomly divided into five groups of eight, namely the control, phenytoin treatment, eucerin, 5% eucerin extract, and 7.5% eucerin extract ointment treatment groups. Skin puncture and application of ointments on the induced wounds were carried out. Subsequently, tissue samples were taken on days 3, 7, 10, and 14, followed by which histological slides were prepared and stained with H&E and Masson’s trichrome staining methods. In vitro mycological studies were conducted using opportunistic fungi, including Candida, Mucor, and Aspergillus species.RESULTS: Based on the macroscopic evaluations of the wound healing process and microscopic assessments of tissue samples stained with Harris H&E and Masson’s trichrome methods, the groups treated with eucerin-based ointments containing ethanolic extract of Laleh abbasi leaf had statistically significant positive wound healing responses compared to the other groups. However, the 7.5% ointment group showed statistically better responses compared to the 5% ointment group. The data obtained in the present preliminary experiment on rat model indicated that the extract could facilitate the wound healing process in terms of healing parameters, such as accelerating epithelium repair, creating a favorable inflammatory reaction, angiogenesis, fibroplasia, and collagen precipitation. The antifungal effects of ethanolic extract of Laleh abbasi leaves on Aspergillus fumigatos, fusarium, Candida albicans and Candida cruzei were demonstrated in vitro using saboro dextrose agar medium.CONCLUSIONS: According to the findings of this experimental study and the findings of other researchers, it can be concluded that ethanolic extract from Laleh abbasi leaves is of healing and antifungal properties.

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis is the cause of a common disease in dairy herds. Early diagnosis of paratuberculosis infection can improve Johne’s disease control programs.OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the sensitivity, and specificity to methods; blood serum ELISA and stool Nested-PCR for the detection of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis infection in dairy cattle.METHODS: A commercial ELISA kit was used to perform the absorbed ELISA test, which was conducted after exposing serum samples to Mycobacterium phlei antigens to limit cross-reactions. Nested-PCR test was performed using nucleotide sequences related to specific MAP gene fragments, i.e. IS900.RESULTS: As a result of the ELISA antibodies kit, out of the total 2203 serum samples, 112 samples were positive (5.08 %) and 2091 samples were negative (94.92 %). The results of Nested-PCR tests of rectal feces showed that out of 59 cows with the positive results in serum ELISA, 47 (79.66 %) samples were positive and 12 (20.34 %) samples were negative. Moreover, out of 31 cattle with a negative result on the ELISA test, 15 (48.38%) and 16 cattle (51.62 %) had positive and negative results, respectively, on the nested PCR tests of the feces samples.CONCLUSIONS: Due to the low sensitivity of PCR compared to ELISA, the positive and negative predictive values, and the accuracy of ELISA test, as well as the high cost and time-consuming nature of PCR and the need for more and more complex facilities than ELISA, the authors concluded that ELISA is a more suitable method for screening and epidemiological studies than PCR.

BACKGROUND: The use of plant compounds and their derivatives, such as extracts and essential oils, for combating infectious agents has attracted a great deal of scientific attention. One of the active antimicrobial compounds with plant origin is carvacrol.OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of carvacrol alone and in combination with the antibiotic cefixime against Escherichia coli O157:H7.METHODS: The antibacterial properties of carvacrol and cefexime were evaluated by determining the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC), and disk diffusion method. The checkerboard assay was used to evaluate the interaction between the carvacrol and cefexime and to determine the fractional inhibitory concentration.RESULTS: The results showed that the MIC and MBC of carvacrol and cefexime against E.coli O157:H7 were 250, 250 μg/ml (MIC, MBC) and 128, 128 μg/ml (MIC, MBC), respectively. In the checkerboard test, carvacrol was found to have a synergistic interaction with antibiotic cefixime against E. coli O157:H7 (FIC index=0.5).CONCLUSIONS: Due to the significant antibacterial activity of carvacrol, the present study introduced this agent as a new antibacterial drug with a natural origin. In addition, since carvacrol significantly increased the antibacterial potential of cefixime (synergistic properties), it could be considered as an effective compound for increasing the antibacterial power of cefixime antibiotic.

BACKGROUND: Poultry farming is one of the most productive and economic agricultural sectors. However, the bacterial contamination and the activity of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) as a potential reservoir of Salmonella in meat poultry farms can inflict direct and indirect damages.OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to identify the darkling beetles and their accompanying Enterobacteriaceae contamination in Isfahan chicken farms.METHODS: Darkling beetles were collected and identified based on their morphological aspects from different parts of 16 poultry farms (4 from each geographical area) in Isfahan Province, Iran. Then, 80 samples of darkling beetles were cultured on selective-differential media culture of the Enterobacteriaceae family using the homogenization and enrichment method. The isolated bacteria were identified based on physiological and molecular characteristics. Also, specific antisera were used to determine serological groups.RESULTS: The results revealed that all collected darkling beetles’ samples belonged to the species Alphitobius diaperinus (Col., Tenebrionidae), and from 80 microbial culture samples from the beetles, isolated bacteria belonged into 4 genera: Escherichia sp. (20 isolates, 25 %), Klebsiella sp. (8 isolates, 10 %), Proteus sp. (22 isolates, 27.5 %), and Salmonella sp. (30 isolates, 37.5 %). Among them, the Salmonella genus accounted for the highest percentage of darkling beetles’ contamination. In the serological assay, the isolated Salmonella were classified into two serogroups, A (23 isolates, 76.67 %) and C (C2 and C3) (7 isolates, 23.33 %), which the A serogroup was the most frequent.CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the A. diaperinus species was isolated and identified for the first time from poultry farms, and this pest, with a high percentage of Salmonella infection, is introduced as one of the reservoir sources of bacterial contamination in the broiler farms.

BACKGROUND: Heparin is a sulfated glycosaminoglycan. Blood is a common source for DNA detection in all kinds of samples, and anticoagulants such as heparin and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) are used to prevent coagulation. Because heparin has a strong inhibitory effect on polymerase chain reaction (PCR), it is not used in samples that will be tracked by DNA. There are physical, chemical, and enzymatic methods to eliminate the inhibitory effect of heparin on PCR test.OBJECTIVES: First, to compare the intensity of the inhibitory effect of two anticoagulants, heparin, and EDTA, on the Real-Time PCR (qPCR), and then to investigate the impact of the heparinase enzyme present in the medium culture extract of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, on removing the inhibitory effect of heparin during the real-time PCR.METHODS: In the present study, two blood samples containing heparin and EDTA were subjected to a real-time PCR test to check the intensity of the inhibitory effect. Then, the medium culture extract of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was added to the heparinized blood sample infected with Escherichia coli bacteria in two groups with different conditions. In the first group, the DNA in the heparinized blood sample was extracted by the phenol-chloroform isoamyl alcohol method. Then, these samples were incubated with the extract of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria culture medium at different hours, but in the second group, the samples were incubated at different hours before DNA extraction. Also, the DNA concentration in both groups was measured by a Nanodrop device, and finally, all samples were subjected to a real-time PCR test.RESULTS: The results of the research samples showed that although the heparinized blood sample contains more DNA concentration than the EDTA blood sample, it completely prevents genome replication. Also, incubating heparinized blood with Pseudomonas aeruginosa culture medium extract before DNA extraction for more than 24 hours removes the inhibitory effect of heparin during the real-time PCR, even at a lower cycle threshold than the EDTA-containing sample.CONCLUSIONS: The Pseudomonas aeruginosa culture medium extract may enable researchers to use heparinized blood samples for genome amplification and diagnosis without using expensive and limited commercial heparinase enzyme.

BACKGROUND: Many toxic elements enter human food in different ways by various industries which can put people's lives in danger. Heavy metals can be rarely removed from the body after absorption and deposition in tissues, which can lead to diseases and complications in the body. Mercury is one of the heavy metals that can posion people after consumption of contaminated seafood. The measurement of pollutants such as mercury that present in aquatic animals and environment is one of challenges for humans.OBJECTIVES: This study aims to measure the amount of mercury accumulation in the edible tissue of whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) found in farms of Bushehr Province in Iran.METHODS: In this research, 70 whiteleg shrimps were collected during four sampling stages in July, August, September and October for two consecutive years. Total mercury level was measured by the cold vapor method.RESULTS: The level of mercury was 0-0.009 mg/kg of body weight, while the recommended limit for mercury is 0.1 mg/kg according to the WHO. The microscopic study on tissue sections did not show any histopathological changes.CONCLUSIONS: The mercury level in the edible tissue of whiteleg shrimps in Bushehr province is much lower than the recommded level and does not pose any danger to residents and consumers.

BACKGROUND: The effect of nanoherbal substances in the treatment of infectious diseases before mating or during pregnancy must be evaluated. Saponin has adverse effects on a pregnant mother and her fetal through complex mechanisms.OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the toxic effects of saponin encapsulated by ferritin nanoparticles (Nanosaponin) on fetal lung development in female mice with Streptococcus pneumonia.METHODS: Extraction of crude saponin from licorice roots was done by the powder heating and using 20 % ethanol and diethyl ether. Then, n-butanol and 5 % sodium chloride solution were added to the aqueous layer. The mice were divided into five groups of 10 including control, pneumonia, pneumonia treated with ferritin, pneumonia treated with saponin, and pneumonia treated with nanosaponin. Then, two groups of untreated pregnant pneumonia and pregnant pneumonia treated with nanosaponin were separated. In this study, tumor necrosis factor alpha (IFN-γ), heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF), Methyl-CpG binding domain 2 (MBD-2), and kruppel like factor 2 (KLF-2) genes were evaluated in the maternal lungs, and TNF-α level was evaluated using ELISA method in the fetal lungs. Maternal tissue, uterus tissue, and fetal lung were examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining, and maternal body tissue was examined by trichromason staining and Oxidative stress parameters were investigated.RESULTS: Nano saponin decreased the expression of IFN-γ (P<0.05) (P<0.01), MBD-2 (P<0.05) and HB-EGF  genes, KLF-2 protein level and TNF-α levels in fetal lung.The thickness of uterine myometrium and blood flow of endometrium increased the number of live embryos and the rate of successful pregnancy. In addition, Nano saponin effectively improved the oxidative stress response in the fetus without any harmful effect on the mother's liver tissue.CONCLUSIONS: The nanosaponin has no toxic effects on the sudy organs of the mother and fetus. It has therapeutic effects on the fetal lung development process after the infection of mother with Streptococcus pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Recently, a subpopulation of monocytes expressing Tie2 receptors has been identified, playing an important role in tumor angiogenesis. Selective depletion of Tie2-expressing monocytes in tumor-bearing mice can inhibit tumor angiogenesis. Some of these macrophages have been shown to be located near the tumor blood vessels, forming vessels in these areas paracrinely during the angiogenesis process.OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the role of putative phosphorylation sites on Tie2 receptor in tumor- associated macrophages connected to human endothelial cells.METHODS: In this study, we used a series of Tie2 mutants. After transfection of tumor-associated macrophages  with these mutants, they were evaluated for physical connection using the surface plasmon resonance technique and by non-contact co-culture of these macrophages with endothelial cells.RESULTS: Mutation in the tyrosine residues 1106 and 1111 had an inhibitory effect on macrophage binding to endothelial cells, resulting in deterioration of the angiogenic activity of these cells.CONCLUSIONS: Tie2 receptor and its downstream molecular pathways such as AKT/PI3 have a role in the interaction of tumor-associated macrophages with human endothelial cells, directly (via physical binding) and indirectly (through secretion of factors affecting angiogenesis). This emphasize the importance of the molecular mechanisms of Tie2 receptor activation in the interactions of endothelial cells with tumor-associated macrophages and as an anti-angiogenic therapy for cancer.