Abstract

Background and Objective: Dogs have been introduced as a major reservoir of Leishmania infantum.  Concerning the increased sporadic reports of humeral visceral leishmaniasis in Golestan province, we aimed to study seroepidemiology of leishmania infantum in Rural Dogs.

Material and Methods:  this study was conducted in 2012 - 2014 on 150 Serum samples of rural dogs, from 10 districts of Golestan province. The samples were analyzed by ELIZA kit.

Results:  the frequency of leishmania infantum was   15.3% and it was higher in the dogs aged more than four. There were no differences in Leishmania infantum infection between sexes and seasons.

Conclusion: our findings indicate the presence of Leishmania infantum in Golestan Province.  Given the presence of positive titer of Leishmania infantum in dogs without clinical signs, we emphasize the main role of rural dogs in transmitting Leishmania infuntum to villagers in the studied area.

 Keywords: Leishmania Infantum, ELIZA, Rural Dogs, Golestan Province

ABSTRACT
         Background and Objectives: Due to adverse effects of pentavalent  antimonial  treatment of visceral leishmaniasis using herbal medicines has received a lot of attention. In this study, we evaluated inhibitory activity of Pelargonium roseum essential oil on growth of Leishmania infantum promastigotes, and compared it with that of Glucantime.
        Methods: Inhibitory effects of different concentrations (1, 2.5, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 µL/ml) of P. roseum essential oil on the growth of L. infantum promastigotes were studied by MTT assay after 24 and 48 hours. All the data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance. The effect of the essential oil was later compared with that of standard dose of Glucantime.
        Results: After 24 hours, different concentrations of the essential oil had no significant inhibitory effect on promastigotes of L. infantum. After 48 hours, all concentrations except for 1µL/ml showed significant anti-leishmanial activity. In addition, the lowest concentration that had significant inhibitory effect on L. infantum promastigote was 5 µL/ml.
       Conclusion: The essential oil of P. roseum has favorable inhibitory activity on the growth of L. infantum promastigotes after 48 hours. This indicates the therapeutic potential of this plant for treatment of leishmaniasis.
        Keywords: Leishmania infantum, Pelargonium, Promastigote, Meglumine antimoniate.

Background and objective: Human breast milk is the primary food for newborns that possess all essential nutrients for their growth and health. However, breast milk can be contaminated with various toxins including aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), a hydroxylated metabolite of aflatoxin B1 formed in the liver and excreted into the breast milk. This toxin can have immunosuppressive, mutagenic, teratogenic and carcinogenic effects. The present study aimed to investigate the level of AFM1 in human breast milk samples from Jiroft (Kerman Province), Iran.
     Methods: A total of 84 human breast milk samples were collected from lactating mothers who were referred to number one clinic in Jiroft from April 2016 to January 2017. The level of AFM1 was measured using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits.
      Results: Aflatoxin M1 was detected in all (100%) human breast milk samples within the interval values of 3.2 to 8.8 ng/L (mean, 4.1±0.7 ng/L). The level of AFM1 in all samples was lower than the maximum tolerable limit (25 ng/L) suggested by the EU and the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
      Conclusion: Although AFM1 is present in all human breast milk samples from the city of Jiroft, the level of this toxin is within the tolerable limit. Therefore, it seems that infants are not at risk.