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Background Trichomonas vaginalis is a protist parasite that causes trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted disease. Metronidazole is the current treatment for trichomoniasis. However, this drug can provoke severe side effects, and some strains present resistance, making the development of alternative treatments for trichomoniasis urgent. Objectives We investigate the use of essential oil obtained from Dracocephalum kotschyi on T. vaginalis. D. kotschyi has antispasmodic and analgesic properties and is well known in Iran. Methods The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation from 1000 g of the powdered plant. Gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry analysis was used for the chemical composition of the essential oil, and 11 substances were identified, corresponding to 91.5% of the oil. Copaene (22.15%), Methyl geranate (16.31%), Geranial (13.78%) and Carvone (11.34%) were the main substances. A cell viability test was used to determine the percentage of growth inhibition (GI%) and the half‐maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) on T. vaginalis after incubation with the prepared essential oil. Results The oil induced an IC50 of 84.07 µg/ml after 24 h contact with trophozoites. Cytotoxicity was determined by MTT assay on the J774.A1 haematopoietic cell line. In addition, the initial stage of apoptosis was assayed using the fluorescein isothiocyanate Annexin V Apoptosis Detection Kit. Evaluation of the in vitro anti‐trichomonal properties of D. kotschyi essential oils showed that it effectively induces apoptosis on T. vaginalis between 100 and 700 µg/ml after 48 h without toxicity on haematopoietic cells, suggesting that D. kotschyi essential oil can induce programmed death in T. vaginalis. Conclusions The anti‐trichomonal properties of D. kotschyi essential oil indicate that they could be suitable for new pharmacologic studies after new tests with human vaginal epithelial cells.

Giardia lamblia is one of the most prevailing intestinal protozoa in many vertebrates like humans, domestic and wild animals. Molecular studies show that Giardia lamblia is a complex parasite. Currently, giardiasis disease is one of the main problems of social and personal health in different countries around the world. Giardia is known as a zoonotic parasite that is divided into eight genetic assemblages (A to H). In this review study, by referring to the molecular epidemiology of Giardia lamblia and emphasizing its zoonotic factors, the background of Giardia and its genotypes in Iran have been studied. The study population consisted of indexed articles in reputable databases such as Scopus, Magiran, SID, Science Direct, PubMed, and Google Scholar in Iran from 1990 to 2020. Based on limited studies in Iran, assemblage BIII and AII are the most common types of Giardia assemblages. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct comprehensive studies on various human and animal isolates in different areas of the country, especially places where no researches have been done.

Nowadays, parasitic worm infection is one of the most critical global health problems. Worm infections cause severe detriments to the livestock industry and also it can cause irreparable damages to immunocompromised persons. Therefore, the present study aimed to review conducted research on the treatment of worm diseases using medicinal plants’ extract. In this systematic review, seven databases including 4 English (Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar) and 3 Persian databases (Magiran, ISC, SID) were obtained between 2008 and 2020 to evaluate conducted studies related to the aim of the current review. Most of the studies focused on the Balanites aegyptiaca and Carica papaya plant. Water was the most common solvent (38.1%) and then it was methanol. The most studied parasite was Haemonchus contortus (35.5%), followed by Aacharidia galli (10.5%). Studies showed that plant extracts could reduce effect of worm infections in the host compared to synthetic drugs. Plant extracts can produce a medicine based on natural compounds and effective on worms with fewer side effects than synthetic drugs.

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The available information for decision-making and adoption of appropriate policies to control paratuberculosis in most countries is based on published studies in developed countries. Therefore, the present study is aimed to review the situation of Johne’s disease (JD) in Iran, in a method to provide accurate information to implement effective programs to control the disease. This research is a systematic review based on valid databases inside and outside the country. The search was performed by keywords of Iran JD, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, buffaloes, milk, semen fluid, and a combination of them. Then, all articles that had necessary indexes were chosen. Unfortunately, despite the extended population of ruminants in the country and the higher infection rate of paratuberculosis in Iran in comparison with developed countries, the accepted strategies for the administration of paratuberculosis are voluntary and considered by ranchers. Basic control approaches are management modification, testing, culling, and vaccination, and implementation of these programs can be operative in control of the disease occurrence in Iran. Numerous mistakes in the design of studies limit the quality of evidence concerning the prevalence of paratuberculosis in the region.

Dirofilariasis is a metazoonoses transmitted by certain mosquito genera (Culicidae: Diptera). Chiefly canids are the reservoirs of Dirofilaria spp. This article analyzed all published records and researches relevant to Dirofilaria in Iran, to provide a basis for future studies in Iran and around the world. All of the important data from human and animal cases that included the pathogen and its reservoir, dispersion, and retrospective studies were investigated and analyzed. Furthermore, the natural history of parasites, pathogenicity, diagnosis, treatment, control, and the final status of the disease in the world was briefly mentioned. Two species of the genus Dirofilaria, Dirofilaria immitis (canine heartworm) and Dirofilaria repens, are detected in Iran. Till now, 13 human cases have been formally reported including seven subcutaneous and three ocular cases of D. repens, a four cases of D. immitis, including a rare case in testicular hydrocele, one ocular and one pre-ocular, a subconjunctival and two pulmonary cases suspected to be D. immitis. Animal and human infections have been recorded in 11 provinces of Iran. Different investigators have reported D. immitis in dogs (with the frequency of 0.95–62.8%), jackals (2.5 57.4%), foxes (5.7–50%), wolves (20–50%), and cats (0.8%) and D. repens in dogs (1.4–60.8%) and jackals (10%) in different areas of the country. The reports on Dirofilaria in Iran are to some extent scattered as regarded to distribution and other features of the disease. More studies should be taken in dirofilariasis in Iran, specifically in regions from where there are no reports.