First molecular detection of Theileria ovis in Rhipicephalus sanguineus tick in Iran

Objective:To determine tick infestation of domestic ruminants and their infection to ovine theileriosis in northern Iran.Methods:About 425 domestic ruminants in Ghaemshahr city in northern Iran were inspected for tick infestations.Twenty tick specimens(13 females and 7 males) of Rhipicephalus sanguineus(R.sanguineus).the most common lick in the study area, were tested by PCR amplification against 18s rRNA genome of Theileria spp using specie specific primers and then the PCR products were sequenced for species identification In comparison with data base available in GenBank.Results:About 323 ticks were collected from 102 animals(88 sheep,12 goats and 2 cattle).The prevalence of ticks infesting animals was R.sanguineus(82.35%), Rhipieeplialus bursa(R.bursa)(0.3%),Ixodes ricinus(I.ricinus)(15.2%),Boophilus annulatus (B.annulalus)(1.2%).Haemaphxsalis punctata(H.punctata)(0.3%) and Haemaphysalis numidiana(H.numidianu)(0.6%).Eleven(55%) tick specimens were PCR positive against genome of Theileria ovis(T.avis).Sequence analysis of the PCR products confirmed presence of T. oris in one R.sanguinus.Conclusions:This is the first report of tick infection to T.oris in Iran. Due to dominant prevalence of R.sanguineus as well as its infection to T.oris,it is postulated this tick is the main vector of ovine theileriosis in northern Iran.

Phlebotomus papatasi and Meriones libycus as the vector and reservoir host of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Qomrood District,Qom Province,central Iran

Objective:To determine the sand flies species responsible for most transmission of Leishmania major(L major) to human,as well as to determine the main reservoir hosts of the disease. Methods:Sand flies were collected using sticky papers and mounted in Puri’s medium for species identification.Rodents were trapped by live Sherman traps.Both sand flies and rodents were subjected to molecular methods for detection of leishmanial parasite.Results:Phlebotomus papatasi(P.papatasi) was the common species in outdoor and indoor resting places.Employing PCR technique only three specimens of 150 P.papatasi(2%) were found naturally infected by parasites with a band of 350 bp which is equal to the L major parasite.Forty six rodents were captured by Sherman traps and identified.Microscopic investigation on blood smear of the animals for amastigote parasites revealed 1(3.22%) infected Meriones libycus(M.libycus). Infection of this animal to L.major was confirmed by PCR against rDNA loci of the parasite. Conclusions:This is the first molecular report of parasite infection of both vector(P.papatasi) and reservoir(M.libycus) to L major in the region.The results indicated that P.papatasi was the primary vector of the disease and circulating the parasite between human and reservoirs and M. libycus was the most important host reservoir for maintenance of the parasite source in the area.

Phytochemistry and larvicidal activity of Eucalyptus camaldulensis against malaria vector,Anopheles stephensi

Objective:To determine phytochemistry and larvicidal activity of Eucalyptus eamaldulensis against Anopheles stephensi.Methods:The chemical compositions of the leaf essential oils were analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry（GC/MS）.The larvicidal activity of essential oils and extract of leaf were tested against 4th instar larvae of laboratory-reared Anopheles stephensi.Results:GC/MS analyses identified the presence of 28 compounds corresponding to 99.60%of the total oil.The main constituents in the leaf essential oil were 1,8-cineole（69.46%）,γ-Terpinene（15.10%）,α-Pinene（5.47%） and Globulol（2%）.The leaf extract and volatile oil exerted significant larvicidal activity with LC50 values of 89.85 and 397.75 ppm,respectively.Clear dose-response relationships were established with the highest dose of 320 ppm essential oil extract resulted almost 100%mortality in the population.Conclusions:The larvicidal properties suggest that the essential oil of plant is a potential source of valuable larvicidal compounds against malaria vector and can be used as an alternative to synthetic insecticides.